Ravindra Jadeja might have fallen behind Axar Patel in India’s ODI plans, but the veteran all-rounder is far from being completely out of the picture for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. JioStar expert Abhishek Nayar believes Jadeja remains an important backup option and could return to the team if Axar Patel becomes unavailable ahead of the showpiece tournament.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s *Out or Not Out*, Nayar discussed Jadeja’s future in India’s ODI setup, the team’s all-rounder options and the importance of having five genuine bowling options in the playing XI.
While acknowledging that Jadeja might not be an automatic selection in the current ODI combination, Nayar highlighted the lack of an experienced alternative to 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,” Nayar said.
However, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara offered a different perspective on Jadeja’s future in the 50-over format.
Jadeja’s omission from India’s New Zealand ODI series has raised questions about his position in the team, particularly with Axar Patel receiving greater opportunities as India’s preferred spin-bowling all-rounder.
Pujara believes the decision could indicate that the team management is looking beyond Jadeja in white-ball cricket, with the veteran potentially focusing on Test cricket.
“I believe so, because if you want to keep Ravindra Jadeja 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,” Pujara said.
“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 also explained why wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has not always been a regular feature in India’s ODI playing XI.
According to the former India batter, team balance and batting depth play a significant role in determining India’s bowling combination, particularly when the team plays outside the country.
He pointed out that teams generally prefer having an all-rounder at No. 7 and a bowling option capable of contributing with the bat at No. 8.
“I think in ODI cricket, you need depth, especially when you play outside India. So, when you look at any team, their balance is better only when they have the option of batting at number seven and number eight. Number seven has to be an all-rounder, and number eight has to be a bowler who can bat a bit. With Kuldeep, he is a very good bowler, but his batting is not up to the mark. So, India are always looking at someone who can bat at number eight,” Pujara explained.
Nayar, meanwhile, stressed that India must prioritise having five proper bowling options in their ODI playing XI rather than relying excessively on batting depth.
He argued that while batting depth is particularly important in T20 cricket, the 50-over format provides teams with enough time to adapt their approach. According to Nayar, taking regular wickets remains the biggest factor in winning major ODI tournaments.
“In T20 cricket, I believe you need depth because you play attacking cricket. In ODI cricket, you have time to adapt, right? According to me, if you don’t take wickets, no matter how long your batting line-up goes, very rarely will a team win a championship because of their seventh or eighth batsman. However, it has happened many times that the fifth bowler can win you a championship,” he said.
Nayar also referred to Australia’s bowling performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where they restricted India to 240 before chasing down the target to lift the trophy.
“In the last World Cup, the differentiating factor was how Australia bowled. In the final, Australia took regular wickets, restricted India and then won the championship. So, for me, in ODIs, bowlers win you tournaments,” Nayar concluded.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, India’s team combination, bowling balance and all-rounder options will remain important talking points. While Axar Patel currently appears to be ahead in the race, Nayar’s comments suggest that Jadeja could still have a significant role to play if India need an experienced replacement before the tournament.