BCCI explains why Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel missing from India’s playing XI for third T20I against South Africa

Suryakumar Yadav-led India featured with two forced changes in the third T20I against South Africa as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel missed out from the team's playing XI at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala

Why Axar, Bumrah miss out?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Axar Patel was unavailable for the selection because of illness, and on the other hand, Bumrah has travelled back to his home for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the game.

"Axar Patel is unavailable for the third T20I due to illness. Jasprit Bumrah has gone back home for personal reasons and will be unavailable for the game. An update on him joining the squad for the remaining matches will be provided in due course" said BCCI in a release.

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There are concerns over Bumrah's participation in the upcoming matches of the series, as the Indian cricket board will announce an update on his joining the squad for the remaining matches will be provided in due course.

Who came in playing XI in place of Bumrah and Axar?

India added Kuldeep Yadav and Harshit Rana to the playing XI in place of Axar and Bumrah. Notably, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl in the third T20I.

Suryakumar Yadav at the toss

We will bowl first. It looks like a good wicket, don't think it will change much. There will be dew later on, so we want to bowl first. Wonderful place, wonderful ground - hope we give them some entertainment. Every game is important. That's the beauty of the game, the way you come back. We want to play fearless cricket and enjoy ourselves. Looks like a good pitch. Patel misses out, Bumrah misses out. Harshit and Kuldeep are in.

India vs South Africa playing XIs

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman