IND vs AUS: Axar Patel ruled out of third ODI
In a major development, star Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the third match of the ongoing ODI series between India and Australia. Axar has been dealing with a left quadriceps strain. With his delay in recovery, the Indian side will be travelling to Rajkot for the third ODI without Axar.
Notably, the 29-year-old is currently under rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. It is expected that Axar might make his return in time for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The warm-up games and subsequently the World Cup are in line for the southpaw.
However, if his injury issues remain, it could open a big door for veteran Ravichandran Ashwin. Being in sensational form against Australia, Ashwin has been pushing a strong case for himself. Ashwin’s inclusion as a replacement for Axar in the World Cup squad could be quite likely.
