Asia Cup | Ravindra Jadeja and Siddarth Kaul called in to replace Akshar Patel and Shardul Thakur

After yesterday’s freak incident involving Hardik Pandya that saw the star all-rounder reeling in pain during India’ clash with Pakistan, BCCI selectors were forced to call up CSK’s Deepak Chahar to replace him.

"All-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered an acute lower back spasm during the game against Pakistan and is undergoing treatment and assessment by the BCCI medical team. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Deepak Chahar will replace Hardik Pandya in the squad," BCCI's statement read.

However, while India were still scratching heads over a plan B, recent reports have now emerged suggesting that two more Indian players would be on heading home on the flight back to India due to injury concerns. Bowling all-rounder Akshar Patel and Mumbai-born youngster Shardul Thakur, are the two players who will depart Dubai due to injury problems.

"Left-arm spinner Axar Patel injured his left index finger while fielding in the game against Pakistan. He was sent for scans and the results showed that he had a tendon tear. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Ravindra Jadeja will replace Axar Patel in the squad. 

"Right-arm pacer Shardul Thakur experienced right hip and groin soreness after the game against Hong Kong. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the series. Siddharth Kaul will replace Shardul Thakur in the squad," the statement further added.

Veteran all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, who featured in the last Test against England last featured in 2017. Punjab’s Kaul took 4/55 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday, and had earlier bagged three wickets in four matches for India B in a quadrangular series. He last played an ODI in England in July where he was given his first ODI cap. Kaul was part of a group of several bowlers flown to Dubai last week to help bowl to India’s batsmen in the nets.