Ravindra Jadeja, ace of the Indian all-rounders, was recalled to the Indian ODI squad for the three-match series against the West Indies. Jadeja last played ODIs for India in January against New Zealand and has been struggling in the format. Jadeja has been a regular on the Indian Test team while having retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
India has been trying to finalise their 2027 ODI World Cup squad, and somewhere there will be a fight for the second spinner role. Ravindra Jadeja will face tough competition from Axar Patel for the spot, as Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar are likely to be greenlit. Hence, today we see three reasons why Ravindra Jadeja might not play in the ODI World Cup 2027.
Here are the 3 reasons why Ravindra Jadeja will not be a part of the ODI World Cup 2027 squad:
3. Never was a wicket-taking bowler
Ravindra Jadeja has picked 234 wickets in 212 ODIs at an economy of 4.90, with the best bowling figures of 5/33. Jadeja made his India ODI debut in 2009 and made a name for himself as more of an all-rounder than a proper spinner. He was never the main wicket-taker in the Indian team, with R Ashwin before him and Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal after him being the main wicket-takers. It will be difficult for him to play in the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, with Kuldeep Yadav being the main spinner in the XI.
2. Fielding prowess on the wane
Fielding has always been the top-most attribute of Ravindra Jadeja ever since he made his India debut. He is a natural athlete and prowled the backward point area like a tiger and also fielded well in the outfield, taking some amazing catches and effecting eye-widening run-outs. However, Jadeja is now 37 years old, and his fielding has become a big lag. It is not on the level of being poor, but it isn’t on the level that it used to be. Axar Patel is a similar-level fielder to Jadeja and a better batter as well when it comes to the middle order.
1. Less batting contributions
Ravindra Jadeja’s valiant knock in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand. However, he has not scored a single fifty in ODIs since 2022 in 44 ODIs, with the best score being 45*. Jadeja’s waning batting contributions are the main reason he has not been a regular in the ODI team in recent times. India has opted for Axar Patel and even has him bat at no. 5 in ODIs, and he has given them the necessary results, be it finishing the games or consolidating the innings. Jadeja has never been a very good batter in ODIs, and this can be a big reason why he might not make it in India’s squad for the 2027 World Cup.
