Bengaluru: Fit-again all-rounder Axar Patel has replaced left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for India's second Test against Sri Lanka, beginning here on Saturday.
The Indian team management has released Kuldeep from the squad.
A shin injury had forced Axar to miss the South Africa tour and the T20I series against the West India. He had also tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
"Axar was the first choice but had to undergo recovery and hence Kuldeep was a back up," a BCCI source told PTI.
"Now Axar is fit and back so Kuldeep has been released," the source added.
At the time of announcing the squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, the BCCI had said Axar was expected to be fit for the second game.
Kuldeep last played a Test in February, 2021.
India won the first Test against Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs to take 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
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