India’s spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of Friday’s Test match between India and England after he complained of pain in his left knee. Patel was included in the Indian squad in place of the veteran Ravindra Jadeja, who is nursing an injury himself.
The last-minute change saw Indian team including left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Deepak Chahar in the main squad from the list of standby players.
"Axar Patel has been ruled out of the first Paytm Test against England. The all-rounder complained of pain in his left knee during Team India's optional training session on Thursday," BCCI secretary Jay Shah stated in a press release.
"He is being monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and while his detailed reports are awaited, he will not be available for selection for the opening match," Shah further stated.
Axar Patel ruled out of first @Paytm #INDvENG Test; Shahbaz Nadeem & Rahul Chahar added to India squad
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 5, 2021
More details 👉 https://t.co/2uk74iyVpW pic.twitter.com/MpUdUGMauB
"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has added spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar to India's squad. Both Nadeem and Chahar have been training with Team India as part of the standby group of players," the release also stated.
A regular in the Indian T20 League, Axar Patel has played 38 ODIs and 11 T20Is for India previously and was in line to make his Test debut.
India made multiple changes to their first eleven for the Chennai Test match, from the side that won the historic Test match at Gabba last month, with Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Nadeem, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah coming in.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Arun Sankar
