The Indian Team management has released left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav from the squad ahead of the pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
The development comes after left-arm orthodox Axar Patel attained full fitness. Patel, who has been out of action since the Mumbai Test against New Zealand back in December, has already joined the India squad ahead of the second Test.
While announcing the Test squad on February 22, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had revealed that, "Axar Patel is currently undergoing his rehab and is not available for selection for the first Test. He will be assessed later to ascertain his selection for the second Test."
Axar will directly slot in the starting XI at the expense of Jayant Yadav, who had another ordinary outing in Mohali.
On a surface where the duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ran through Sri Lanka's batting-unit in both innings, Jayant didn't manage a single wicket.
India won the Mohali Test by a comprehensive margin by an innings & 222 runs inside three days. Jadeja had a memorable outing as he smashed an unbeaten 175 before claiming nine wickets across two innings.
Ashwin also had a memorable game as he leapfrogged the legendary Kapil Dev to become the 2nd highest wicket-taker for his country in the longest format.
Meanwhile, India have also released NCA staffers- Apurva Desai (batting coach), Partho (physico) and Anand Date (trainer)- but have retained former spinner Sairaj Bahutule, who will continue to assist the team in Bengaluru.
The second Test will get underway from March 13.
India's Test squad:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, R. Ashwin (subject to fitness clearance), Axar Patel, Saurabh Kumar, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain).