Team India star released from squad, to join A team in Bengaluru after AUS vs IND 2025 3rd T20I

Team India spinner Kuldeep Yadav will play no part in the remainder of the ongoing T20I series against Australia, as he has been added to the India 'A' squad for the second unofficial Test against South Africa 'A' in Bengaluru. The wrist spinner had featured in the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne, before being dropped for the recently concluded third contest in Hobart.

The Rishabh Pant-led India 'A' side will face South Africa 'A' in the second match from November 6 onwards, coinciding with Suryakumar Yadav and co's fourth T20I against Australia. With only a short turnaround before the beginning of the two-match home Test series against South Africa, where Kuldeep Yadav is set to play a massive role, the decision to release him has been confirmed.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement, citing red-ball game time as the reason behind Kuldeep Yadav's release from the T20I side.

"The Indian team management has requested to release Kuldeep Yadav from the ongoing T20I series to allow him to participate in the India A series against South Africa A at the BCCI COE," the BCCI statement read. "The decision has been taken to provide Kuldeep with red-ball game time in preparation for the upcoming Test series against South Africa," the statement continued.

India’s updated squad for 4th and 5th T20I: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

India A’s updated squad for 2nd four-day game: Rishabh Pant (C) (WK), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sai Sudharsan (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav

India 'A' recently compiled a thrilling three-wicket win over South Africa 'A' in the series opener after chasing down 277 in the fourth innings. Skipper Rishabh Pant led from the front with a sublime 90, while the lower-order trio of Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, and Anshul Kamboj scored valuable cameos to get the team over the line.

Kuldeep Yadav picked up 12 wickets in India's last home Test series win over the West Indies

The left-arm wrist spinner returned to the Test playing XI during the home series against the West Indies after an absence spanning almost a year. Although the conditions were unlike the traditional subcontinent surfaces, he still managed to make a massive impact by clinching 12 wickets in two games at an average of 19.50.

Kuldeep Yadav was the leading wicket-taker of the series, and was also named player of the match in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

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Edited by Gokul Nair