Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara feels that Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI career might be all but over. Jadeja was not picked in the ODI squad for the five-match series against New Zealand, with the Men in Blue preferring Axar Patel.
With ODI World Cup lined up next year, this clearly suggests India are keen to give Axar priority over Jadeja for the marquee event. Pujara said if Jadeja was in India’s scheme of things in ODIs, he should have been picked for the New Zealand series.
“I believe so, because if you want to keep in ODI cricket, then he should have been selected. I’m sure it was communicated to him that he might not be selected because Axar Patel has been the main all-rounder in ODI cricket and is being given more opportunities.
“Looking at his age, I feel the team management might have told him that he is now only a part of Test cricket, so he should focus there, and that they are not looking at him for white-ball cricket. So, it could be the end of the road because, obviously, he has retired from T20 Internationals. I feel he might not be selected just for the ODIs,” Pujara told JioStar, as quoted by IANS.
However, former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar feels that Jadeja might still make the squad as back-up for Axar Patel.
“Jaddu might not come back into the team, but if someone gets injured, the first name that will come to mind will be Jaddu. Because after Axar, there is no one.
“The valid question right now would be: After Axar, who is the frontrunner? Currently, the frontrunner is Axar Patel, and after him, Jaddu is still your insurance policy. If something happens to Axar Patel before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja will come into the team,” he said on the same show.