All-rounder Akshar Patel has recovered completely from his knee issue and is available for selection for the second Test starting in Chennai on Saturday (February 13). Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a media release on Thursday confirmed that Akshar is now fully fit and spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar have been withdrawn from the main squad.
Nadeem played in the first Test but struggled for rhythm as he conceded 233 runs while picking up only four wickets in the match on a helpful pitch. He also bowled nine no-balls which made his task harder to build up any pressure on the England batsmen.
BCCI said in their statement: "Axar Patel has recovered completely and is now available for selection for the 2nd Paytm Test in Chennai against England to be played from Saturday, 13th February. The all-rounder had complained of pain in his left knee and was ruled out of the first Test.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee have now withdrawn Shahbaz Nadeem and Rahul Chahar from the main squad and added the duo back to the group of standby players."
Earlier today, Akshar was seen bowling and batting at the nets as Team India began their preparations for the second match of the four-Test series.
India squad for 2nd Test: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Akshar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur
Standby players: K S Bharat, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shahbaz Nadeem, Rahul Chahar, Priyank Panchal
Net Bowlers: Ankit Rajpoot, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Warrier, Krishnappa Gowtham, Saurabh Kumar
