The selection for India’s Sri Lanka tour brought several surprises, highlighting a new approach focused on future prospects. Among these was the omission of Ravindra Jadeja from the ODI squad, despite his recent retirement from T20Is post India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2024. Initially expected to play a pivotal role in both Test and ODI formats for upcoming ICC tournaments, Jadeja’s exclusion raised eyebrows. A BCCI official cited reasons for this decision. Besides his contributions as a versatile batsman and bowler, Jadeja’s reputation as an outstanding fielder adds to his cricketing prowess, underscoring his multifaceted value to the team.
BCCI official reveals the reason behind dropping Ravindra Jadeja from ODIs vs Sri Lanka
According to a BCCI official, Ravindra Jadeja has been excluded from India’s plans for white-ball cricket, leading to his omission from the Sri Lanka ODIs. The selectors opted to focus on providing ample opportunities to spin-bowling all-rounders such as Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, aiming to assess their potential ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy. With limited chances available prior to the tournament, the decision was made to prioritize the development and selection of players who align more closely with current strategic objectives in limited-overs cricket.
“There are only six ODIs, including the three in Sri Lanka, before next year’s Champions Trophy. The selectors want to utilize the handful of games by giving more opportunities to Axar Patel and Washington Sundar,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times.
Ravindra Jadeja has been a stalwart for Indian cricket, making invaluable contributions in both Test and ODI formats throughout his illustrious 15-year international career. Renowned for his match-winning performances, Jadeja played a pivotal role in India’s journey to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where they finished as runners-up. Since making his debut in 2009, the left-hander has been a fixture in India’s squads, featuring in 197 ODIs out of 354 matches played by the team. Except for occasional injury setbacks, Jadeja has consistently been a cornerstone of India’s starting XI across formats, earning his place through consistent performances and versatility.
“Nothing wrong with Jadeja’s performance” – BCCI official
The BCCI official further mentioned that there is nothing wrong with Jadeja’s performance but the team management is looking to build a team for the future under new coach Gautam Gambhir.
“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 official said.
Now that Ravindra Jadeja is no longer in India’s ODI plans, the spotlight shifts to Axar Patel, his understudy. Despite being in and out of the Indian team, Axar hasn’t yet cemented his position in the starting lineup. With Jadeja’s absence, the team management is expected to provide Axar Patel with increased opportunities in ODIs, positioning him as the preferred successor to Jadeja. This presents a crucial moment for Axar to step up and make a compelling case for a regular place in the playing XI, thereby filling the void left by Jadeja’s absence in the white-ball format.
During the T20 World Cup 2024, Axar Patel emerged as a pivotal figure in India’s championship victory. His standout performances included a remarkable bowling spell against England in the semi-final and a crucial contribution with the bat in the final against South Africa, aiding India to clinch the title. Notably, even with Ravindra Jadeja available, Axar Patel was favored by Rohit Sharma in the bowling lineup, underscoring the team’s increasing trust and reliance on Axar’s abilities. This demonstrated the growing confidence within the team in Axar Patel’s match-winning capabilities, solidifying his role as a key player in crucial tournament moments.
