The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (November 18) confirmed that pacer Mukesh Kumar has been released from India’s squad for the third T20I against Australia in Guwahati.

Mukesh, who featured in the playing XI for the first two T20Is, is getting married and has been granted leave for his special occasion.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the BCCI wrote: “Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar made a request to BCCI to be released from India’s squad ahead of the third T20I against Australia in Guwahati. Mukesh is getting married and has been granted leave for the duration of his wedding festivities.”

“He will join the squad ahead of the 4th T20I in Raipur,” it added.

The board also announced that Deepak Chahar has been added to the squad for the remainder of the five-T20I series.

While Mukesh was wicketless in the series opener, he returned with an economical spell (0/29 in four overs) in a high-scoring affair. In the second T20I, he claimed one scalp by conceding 43 runs in his four overs.

Talking about Chahar, he hasn’t played for India since December 2022. The right-arm pacer sustained a hamstring injury earlier in the season and missed six IPL games for Chennai Super Kings.

Chahar has represented the country in 13 ODIs and 24 T20Is so far, picking up 16 and 29 wickets respectively.