India’s left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the T20I squad currently touring Australia, a move confirmed by the BCCI on Sunday. This decision comes with two matches still remaining in the five-match series, which is currently tied at 1-1.
In an official statement, the board explained that “The Indian team management has requested to release Kuldeep Yadav from the ongoing T20I series in Australia to allow him to participate in the India A series against South Africa A at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The second four-day match starts on 6th November.” The BCCI further clarified that this step was taken specifically to give Kuldeep valuable red-ball game time, crucial for his preparation ahead of the forthcoming Test series against South Africa.
The India A team recently secured a stunning victory over South Africa A in their first red-ball encounter, thanks in part to a spectacular 90-run innings from skipper Rishabh Pant, who was making only his second appearance after a three-month injury layoff.
Kuldeep Yadav featured in India’s second T20I defeat in Brisbane, where he took two wickets for 45 runs in 3.2 overs. He was part of the squad but did not play in the rain-affected opening match and was subsequently benched for the third T20I in Hobart, a game India won to level the series, propelled by all-round performances from Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.
With Kuldeep’s departure, India’s revised squad for the remaining two T20Is against Australia now includes Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Washington Sundar. Meanwhile, Kuldeep will join Rishabh Pant and other senior players like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna, along with domestic talents such as Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, for the second four-day match against South Africa A, starting November 6. The focus for India now shifts to the final two T20I matches against Australia to win the series, while Kuldeep aims to build momentum for the home Test series beginning November 14.