Team India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja might be dropped from all formats after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Reports suggest that the team management has not been satisfied with his recent performances. The management is focused on building a strong core for the 2027 ODI World Cup and is unsure if Jadeja fits into their plans. Currently, Jadeja plays Tests and ODIs, having retired from T20Is after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. His last ODI was the 2023 World Cup final.
Jadeja has struggled in the lower order as an all-rounder, which has been a concern for India. His batting performances in ODIs have been underwhelming, with questions raised about his ability to rotate the strike and handle pressure. Meanwhile, his potential replacement, Axar Patel, has been delivering impressive performances with both bat and ball.
During India’s tour of Sri Lanka, when Gautam Gambhir started his coaching stint, senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were included after the T20 World Cup, but Jadeja was left out. Instead, players like Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar were given opportunities as spin-bowling all-rounders.
In the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Washington Sundar was preferred over Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin. Ashwin announced his retirement during the BGT 2024.
A BCCI source told The Times of India, “Gambhir is very firm about building a core team for each format. So far, he hasn’t made drastic changes in the longer format, but he has a clear vision for establishing a strong base for the ODI World Cup. He is willing to give opportunities to identified players.”
The source further added, “It depends on when the selectors decide that changes are necessary. They will discuss whether to stick with a safe option like Jadeja or move forward now. Even in Test cricket, Jadeja has struggled to perform consistently, though his bowling has remained steady. There’s a desire to move beyond him, especially in the ODI format. It will be a tough decision in the coming days.”
