New Delhi. With the announcement of India’s team against Sri Lanka, questions have been raised on the career of a legendary player. After Kapil Dev, the only player who has taken more than 500 wickets and scored more than 5000 runs for India is Ravindra Jadeja. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from the T20I format after winning the World Cup, while he has not been given a place in the ODI team announced against Sri Lanka.
Ravindra Jadeja is not the only big name who is missing from India’s ODI team. There are other names too, but the reason for their absence has been given. Jaspreet Bumrah has been given rest. Hardik Pandya has asked for rest. Mohammad Shami is injured. Now only two big names remain among the active players, whose non-selection is questionable. First Ravindra Jadeja and second Ravichandran Ashwin.
Jadeja retired from T20I format on June 29
Everyone knows that Ashwin, who is going to be 38 years old in September, has been almost ruled out of the ODI and T20 team due to his age and fitness. But this is not the case with 35-year-old Jadeja. He beats any young player in fitness. And then, out of the three players who said goodbye to the T20 format on June 29, 2 have been included in the ODI team. Both these players (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) are older than all-rounder Jadeja. There is no news of Jadeja asking for or being given rest.
Now Akshar and Sundar’s pair will be seen
It is crystal clear that BCCI has selected the best team from the players available for the Sri Lanka tour. But if Ravindra Jadeja is not included in this best team, then questions will definitely arise about his future. If Jadeja is not making it to the 15 players despite all-rounder Hardik Pandya not being in the team, then it is natural for his fans to be worried. But it seems that the Indian selectors have decided to give preference to Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar over Jadeja. Akshar and Sundar are the two spin all-rounders selected in the Indian ODI team. Akshar performed better than Jadeja in the T20 World Cup, while Washington Sundar was the Player of the Series against Zimbabwe. Sundar is an off-spinner.
Sundar gives the team the option of off spin
If Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar are in the playing eleven, then India gets both an off-spinner and a left-arm spinner. If Akshar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja play together, then both of them are left-arm spinners. In such a situation, India does not get an off-spinner. But if Jadeja and Sundar are together, then both an off-spinner and a left-arm spinner are included in the team. It is clear that if both an off-spinner and a left-arm spinner are needed in the playing eleven, then Sundar will be in the team, only one of Jadeja and Akshar Patel will play. Now Akshar Patel being in the team and Jadeja being left out indicates that the selectors want to go with a young all-rounder.
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It is not that Ravindra Jadeja has played his last ODI match. It is possible that he may be included in the ODI team in some series but at least it seems that he is not being seen in the plans for the 2027 World Cup. As far as Test matches are concerned, Ravindra Jadeja’s position is not in danger. He has strengthened his position in the Test team and there is no threat to his place in the near future.
Talking about the record book, Ravindra Jadeja has played 72 Tests, 197 ODIs and 74 T20 matches. He has scored 3036 runs and taken 294 wickets in Test matches. He has 2756 runs and 220 wickets in ODI cricket. Jadeja has scored 515 runs and taken 54 wickets in T20 International matches.
Tags: India vs Sri Lanka, Indian Cricket Team, ravinjadeja, Team India
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 19, 2024, 12:39 IST