The Indian deputy skipper in Tests, Jasprit Bumrah on Friday acknowledged that match-fit Axar Patel will any day walk straight into the playing XI of the Indian team, especially in home conditions. Bumrah reckons that Axar not just contributes with the bat and the ball, but in the field as well. Bumrah showered praises on Axar, saying that the all-rounder adds a lot of value with his return to the squad.

Fit-again all-rounder Axar Patel, who recovered from a shin injury after missing the South Africa tour and the T20I series against West Indies, has now made a comeback to the Indian line-up as he replaced Kuldeep Yadav for the second Test against Sri Lanka, beginning Saturday and it will be played with the pink-ball.

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Talking about Axar Patel during the media interaction ahead of the pink-ball Test, Jasprit Bumrah said, “Axar Patel has added a lot of value whenever he has played, has contributed a lot, and offers a lot in all departments. He was injured but he jumps straight back in when he’s fit. We’ll discuss our combination but of course, he’s valuable.”

Axar Patel’s last international outing came against New Zealand at home last year. He has scalped 9 wickets in 2 Test matches against the Tom Latham-led side before he picked up the injury. Axar, who made his debut in the second Test against England, had a great start to his Test career after he followed a five-wicket haul in his debut match with two more successive ones in the two innings in the Pink-ball Test at Ahmedabad.

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The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Thursday decided to allowed 100 percent crowd attendance for the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, owing to a sharp decline in Covid-19 cases and high demand for tickets.