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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed the Indian squad for the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 against Australia, which is set to kick off on November 22. The four-match Test series promises to be an intense contest, with India aiming to retain the trophy on Australian soil. While the squad features some familiar faces, there are a few notable exclusions that have raised eyebrows.
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel miss out on the Test squad
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who recently played in the first Test against New Zealand, has been left out of the Test squad for the Australia tour. Similarly, all-rounder Axar Patel has also been excluded from the Test setup, though he has secured a spot in the T20I squad for India’s upcoming series against South Africa.
Reason behind Kuldeep and Axar’s absence
The BCCI clarified that Kuldeep’s exclusion was due to an injury concern rather than a strategic choice. He has been dealing with a chronic problem in his left groin, which has been affecting his performance. As a result, after the conclusion of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, Kuldeep has been sent to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for a long-term treatment plan to address and resolve this injury, making him unavailable for selection for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Kuldeep Yadav was unavailable for selection for the tour of Australia since he has been referred to the BCCI Centre of Excellence after the end of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand for long term resolution of his chronic left groin issue,” read a statement from the BCCI.
Also READ: BCCI announce India’s Test squad for Australia tour; Kuldeep Yadav misses out
As for Axar, the BCCI did not provide an official reason for his omission from the Test squad. Reports suggest that Axar may have fallen down the pecking order, with selectors opting for Washington Sundar, who is expected to play a key role in the spin department alongside Ravindra Jadeja. If India chooses to field two spinners, Sundar could even be considered ahead of veteran Ravichandran Ashwin, further limiting opportunities for Axar in the Test setup.
Axar has been included in the T20I squad for the South Africa series starting on November 8 in Durban. However, the decision to leave him out of the Test squad indicates that the team management is looking for a more balanced combination for the tour down under.
Expectations from India in the BGT 2024-25
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is always a fiercely competitive series, and this time it is expected to be no different. India will be keen to defend their title and continue their dominance over Australia. With key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jadeja in the squad, the team will be banking on their experience and form to deliver strong performances.
