Axar Patel has been rushed to Sri Lanka after playing the final of the tri-series against South Africa A and is in line to make his Test debut in the third Test match.
On Tuesday, the news came out that Jayant Yadav is the second candidate who might be called into the team, as he is already present in India but Axar won the race in the end.
(Read Here: Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav In Line For India Call-Up)
Now, the all-rounder has a direct race with Kuldeep Yadav for a place in playing XI. Though the board is yet to come up with an official statement regarding Axar’s call-up, a word from the board is expected to come out today.
This will second official Test call-up for him. Incidentally, his first Test call up came in 2014 against Australia as a replacement for injured Ravindra Jadeja. Second time as well, he was called as an unannounced back up for Jadeja a night before the Chennai Test against England and third time as well, Axar is coming as a replacement of Jadeja – who has been suspended by ICC for Pallekele Test.
“Axar is someone who can do a Jadeja with the bat too, though he averages just 14.16 and has the highest score of 38 in ODIs. The left-hander, though, has some decent knocks in domestic cricket, averaging 48.45 after 23 games in first-class cricket, with 10 fifties and a hundred, besides taking 79 wickets If India sticks to playing two spinners in Pallekele, something which they have do make the ball bounce as much as Jadeja, which is what we’re looking for. He can be dangerous in these conditions,” a source told TOI.
