Axar Patel ruled out of third ODI vs Australia with massive question on his fitness ahead of 2023 ODI World Cup

The Indian cricket team is set to play their final bilateral match before the ODI World Cup on Wednesday. The game is set to be played at Rajkot between India and Australia. Team India has already sealed the series with the win on Sunday in Indore.

Axar Patel is set to miss out on the final game of the series after missing the first two games. The 29-year-old had faced strain on his quadriceps during the Asia Cup game. This prompted the Indian selectors to give a re-call to Ravichandran Ashwin for the series.

The Indian cricket board had earlier rested Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur for the series. Both the players will rejoin the Indian team for the start of the ODI World Cup warm-up matches in Guwahati.

Axar Patel still out injured as doubts arise over his fitness

The Indian cricket board on Monday confirmed that Axar Patel will not be part of the Rajkot ODI. The 29-year-old is still not fit and is battling against time to regain his fitness. Axar Patel got injured in the game against Bangladesh during the 2023 Asia Cup.

Ravichandran Ashwin who picked 3 wickets on Sunday is set to keep his place in the 11. The veteran bowler was the main destroyer with the ball grabbing two big wickets in Indore. There is some hope for Axar Patel and his fans, there is a good chance that he could be fit for the Warm Up games.

India is set to play current champions England and the Netherlands in the warm-up games. The Indian team will then begin their campaign with the game against Australia at Chennai on the 8^th of October. In the eventual scenario of Axar Patel being unable to regain fitness, Ashwin is the favorite to be picked. The Indian selectors have until the 28^th of September to decide whether to replace Axar Patel or not.

Shubman Gill is also out for the game after his match-winning century on Sunday. The youngster has been in sizzling form this year in the fifty-over format. The Indian team will have the services of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the Rajkot game.