Karnataka's K Gowtham replaces Jayant Yadav in the India A team

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav will no longer join the India ‘A’ squad after a personal tragedy hit him. The 27-year-old was a part of the India A squad for both the one-dayers and four-day matches against South Africa ‘A’ and Afghanistan ‘A’. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the offie will not return to the squad as his father Jai Singh passed away on August 3.

Yadav had to return home early because of his father’s illness and further, and once the news of his demise was confirmed there was no clarity whether he would rejoin to the squad for the two four-day games. The first of the matches is scheduled to start on the 12th of August.

It has now been decided that Yadav will be replaced by Karnataka’s K Gowtham in the team. Gowtham is a like-to-like replacement for the offie with Indian skipper Karun Nair knowing his value given the two are state mates.

The limited overs battle

The India A team led by Karun Nair has completed the league engagements in the limited-overs tri-series in South Africa. They won the last match against South Africa A, thanks to the brilliant knock from the in-form skipper Manish Pandey who took the Indian team over the line with a solitary wicket in hand. The finals again will be a repeat contest between the two sides, where the hosts South Africa, would be looking to avenge their loss in the previous game in Pretoria on August 8.

Team India, on the other hand, will want to conclude the tri-series with the trophy which will add another feather to the already strong cap. They will certainly miss Jayant who has been a top performer for the team with the ball and is a useful contributor with the bat as well.