Kuldeep Yadav has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release him from the India squad for his wedding later this month. According to a report in the Times of India, the premier spinner had to cancel his wedding celebrations earlier this year after cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan delayed the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Kuldeep has now asked for leave during the last week of November. India will play South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati from November 22, with the three-match series beginning on November 30 in Ranchi.
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The team management has not yet made a final decision on Kuldeep Yadav’s request for leave and will assess when they need his services before granting it. A BCCI source told the Times of India, “Kuldeep plans his wedding for the last week of November. The team management will decide on the leave based on when they need him.” Ahead of the first Test against South Africa, there was debate over Kuldeep’s spot in the playing XI, but the management opted for him as one of the four spinners, alongside Jadeja, Sundar, and Axar Patel. Earlier this month, Kuldeep was released from the T20I squad in Australia to prepare for the South Africa Tests by playing for India A, but he managed only one wicket in the outing.
South Africa Bat First India Make Changes
South Africa won the toss in the Kolkata Test against India and chose to bat first. Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton put on 57 runs for the first wicket before Jasprit Bumrah broke the partnership, dismissing Markram (31) and Rickelton (23). Kuldeep Yadav then struck, sending Temba Bavuma (3) and Wiaan Mulder (24) back to the pavilion. India made two changes to their playing XI from the previous Test, bringing in Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sai Sudharsan. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada missed the match due to a rib injury, and Corbin Bosch replaced him in the playing XI.
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