Pandya, Shardul and Axar ruled out of Asia Cup, Jadeja returns after 1 year

Veteran Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja is likely to join the Indian squad to replace Axar Patel

Injuries to multiple players paved way for the return of Ravindra Jadeja to the Indian ODI squad after a gap of 1 year. Hours after the confirmation of Hardik Pandya unavailability, speedster Shardul Thakur and left-arm spinner Axar Patel were also ruled out of the remainder of Asia Cup with injuries.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed the development through a press release on Thursday. It stated that left-arm spinner Axar Patel injured his left index finger while fielding in the game against Pakistan. He was sent for scans and the results showed that he had a tendon tear. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Ravindra Jadeja will replace Axar Patel in the squad.

Also, right-arm pacer Shardul Thakur experienced right hip and groin soreness after the game against Hong Kong. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Siddharth Kaul will replace Shardul Thakur in the squad.

NEWS: Hardik, Axar & Shardul ruled out of #AsiaCup2018

Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja and Siddharth Kaul named as replacements in the squad. More details here - https://t.co/mG3ggtLtrn pic.twitter.com/HHYR5BcCRx

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 20, 2018

Thakur, who played the Asia Cup opener for India against Hong Kong on Tuesday, conceded 41 runs and remained wicketless. In the last match against Pakistan, he was benched for not being completely fit.

Spinner Axar Patel ruled out without getting featured in a single match in the tournament.

It has been over a year now that Ravindra Jadeja is out from the Indian ODI squad. He last played for India in 2017 in the tour of West Indies.

The outing of these two players seems to have increased the trouble of Rohit Sharma & Co. Earlier on Wednesday, all-rounder Hardik Pandya was stretchered off the field during the group league encounter against Pakistan on Wednesday.

The incident took place in the 18th over of the Pakistan innings when the all-rounder was bowling his fifth over. It was the fifth delivery and Pandya, after completing the follow through, immediately felt his lower back and lay on the ground in considerable pain.