Pace bowler Shardul Thakur has replaced all-rounder Axar Patel in India's main squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup squad, the BCCI said in a statement today.
Patel was dropped from the 15-man side and placed in a list of stand-by players.
The 29-year-old Thakur has impressed with his 18 wickets in the ongoing IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
"The All-India Senior Selection Committee after a discussion with the team management has added Shardul Thakur to the main squad. All-rounder Axar Patel, who was part of the 15-member squad will now be on the list of stand-by players," BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
With pace all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who plays for Mumbai Indians, not bowling during the IPL because of fitness issues, the selectors wanted a cover for him.
"The selectors felt that they were one pacer short and also with Hardik Pandya not bowling, they needed an all-rounder in the main squad," a source close to the selection committee told PTI.
"Axar remains in stand by and if Ravindra Jadeja gets injured, he will again be back in main team. Till Jaddu plays, Axar won't be required."
As reported by PTI, the selectors also included Harshal Patel among the net bowlers for the Indian team.
"The following cricketers will join the team bubble in Dubai and assist Team India in their preparations: Avesh Khan, Umran Malik, Harshal Patel, Lukman Meriwala, Venkatesh Iyer, Karn Sharma, Shahbaz Ahmed and K. Gowtham," the statement said.
India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on October 24. The tournament was scheduled to be held in India but the COVID-19 situation in the country forced organisers to shift it to the UAE and Oman.
India squad:
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami.
Reserves: Shreyas Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Axar Patel.
(With PTI inputs)
