(AFP Photo)
Following his retirement from T20Is post India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Ravindra Jadeja, the esteemed Indian all-rounder, appears unlikely to feature in the country’s ODI squad going forward. Despite his impressive record of 2756 runs and 220 wickets in 197 ODIs, Jadeja’s exclusion from the upcoming Sri Lanka series suggests the selectors’ focus on Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for the spin all-rounder roles in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
“There are only six ODIs, including the three in Sri Lanka, before next year’s Champions Trophy. The selectors want to utilise the handful of games by giving more opportunities to Axar Patel and Washington Sundar,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
The source indicated that Jadeja’s performance remains commendable, but the management aims to prioritize younger players, considering future prospects.
“There’s nothing wrong with Jadeja’s performance. The management just wants to look at other options as we have to build a team for the future,” the source added.
Sundar, celebrated for earning the Player of the Series accolade in the recent five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, is being groomed as Ravindra Jadeja’s prospective successor in the Indian squad. The 24-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder has featured in 19 ODIs since his debut in December 2017, amassing 18 wickets and 265 runs.
According to the source, while the selectors are shifting focus away from Jadeja in ODIs, he remains a pivotal figure in India’s Test lineup and will play a crucial role under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the upcoming World Test Championship fixtures.
“Jadeja is outstanding in Test cricket. His bowling in home conditions is unmatchable. He will be important for India’s World Test Championship bid,” the source said.
Following the Sri Lanka tour, India’s cricket schedule includes hosting Bangladesh and New Zealand for two and three Tests respectively, before heading to Australia for a challenging five-match Test series against Pat Cummins’ team.
