Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: 2 players from India's squad for NZ series who are not selected for Australia tour

India will tour Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

On October 25, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced 18-member squad for the upcoming high-voltage Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 in Australia. Rohit Sharma will continue to lead the side and speedster Jasprit Bumrah has been named Rohit’s deputy.

For the first time since the 1991-92 series, both Australia and India will compete in a five-match test series. The much-awaited BGT 2024-25 will be played from November 22, 2024, to January 7, 2025. 

Ahead of the BGT 2024-25, India are currently hosting New Zealand for a three-match test series at home. Two Indian cricketers who are part of the squad that is hosting New Zealand haven’t been included in the squad for the Australia tour.

Two players from India’s squad for the New Zealand test series who are not selected for the Australia tour:

1. Kuldeep Yadav

Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav played the first test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, where he picked three wickets in the match, but was taken to the cleaners by the Kiwi batsmen. He was dropped from the second test in Pune, and Washington Sundar replaced him.

Kuldeep then wasn’t named in the squad for the BGT 2024-25. The BCCI confirmed that Kuldeep was unavailable for the selection for the Australia tour as he will go to the BCCI Centre of Excellence to treat his chronic left groin issue.

2. Axar Patel

All-rounder Axar Patel is part of the squad for the ongoing New Zealand test series, but he didn’t feature in the first two tests.

He hasn’t made the cut for the Australia tour as well, and it isn’t surprising since he is unlikely to get a game there: India have picked three spinning all-rounders in R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar.

Axar has been picked in India squad for the four-match T20I series in South Africa, starting on November 8.

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