Left-arm spinner Axar to replace injured Jadeja for last 2 Tests

Gujarat's left-arm spinner Axar Patel got his maiden Test call up when he named as the replacement for the injured Ravindra Jadeja for the remaining two Tests of the four-match series against Australia.

"Axar Patel will join the Indian team in Australia for the remainder of the Test Series as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, who has a shoulder injury and will be returning to India to undergo a rehabilitation program," the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a media release on Monday.

Patel, 20, has already played nine One-Day Internationals for India after making his debut against Bangladesh earlier this year.

He was picked in the India ODI team after his impressive performances for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League this year when he claimed 16 wickets.

The left-arm spinner was preferred ahead of Jadeja in the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka last month, claiming 11 wickets at an economy rate of 4.61.

Patel is currently playing for Gujarat in the Group B Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra, and in the first innings he picked up four wickets in the first innings.

India are trailing 0-2 in the four-match series after losing the first two Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane. The third match will be played in Melbourne from December 26.

Image: Axar Patel

Photograph: BCCI