Mumbai: Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, has been named as a replacement for the suspended Ravindra Jadeja, for India’s third and final test against Sri Lanka, at Pallekelle starting on August 12. Virat Kohli and his men has already sealed the series 2-0.
“The All-India Senior Selection Committee on Tuesday named Axar Patel as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja in the team for the 3rd test, which starts from 12 August 2017, at Pallekele International Stadium,” said the current acting secretary of the BCCI, Amitabh Choudhary.
Axar Patel is currently a part of India A team that just defeated South Africa A in the final of Triangular series, in Pretoria on Tuesday. The spinner had a good series picking up seven wickets in four matches at an average of 20.
The 23-year old Patel, who has already played for India in 30 ODI’s and seven T20’s is expected to join the squad on Thursday and will make his test debut if he is selected for the third test.
Ravindra Jadeja has been suspended for a match after breaching the ICC code of conduct in the second test of the three match series.
The number 1 Test bowler, threw the ball at Sri Lankan batsman Malinda Pushpakumara during the second test in Colombo, in an attempt to run the batsman out, which was deemed as dangerous by the on- field umpires and the match officials, following which the all-rounder was suspended.
Jadeja who became the world number one all-rounder on Tuesday, was also charged 50 per cent of his match fees by the ICC after breaching the rules twice in 24 months.
The Indian team have already clinched the three match series after winning the first two test matches. The visitors won the first test by a massive 304 runs, while winning the second test by an innings and 53 runs. It was their ninth series win on the trot. The team will look to make a clean sweep by winning the third test, to make it to their second test series win in the island nation in two years.