3 reasons why India must move on from Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs
Indian team selections come with a range of emotions: jubilation for some, disappointment and longing for others, and often a lot of confusion for fans.
When the squads were announced for the men's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, one big name was missing from both ODI and T20I teams and it didn't seem to engender any of these emotions. That name was Ravindra Jadeja.
The all-rounder recently announced his retirement from T20Is. But the way his career shaped up and how small a contribution -- one wicket in 17 overs and 35 runs -- he had in the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph meant that it seemed a lot more normal and prosaic than Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's retirement.
Now, as he missed out on the ODI team too, reports about how this could be the end of the road for him in 50-over cricket have been quick to come by. And again, it's not a surprise, despite him being one of India's best at the 2023 World Cup.
Below, we explain why it is a step in the right direction.
#3 Ravindra Jadeja would be too old by the time the 2027 World Cup comes
The first question that the selectors would have asked when picking the ODI squad would be, "What are we building towards?". If the answer was the 2025 Champions Trophy then Jadeja might have had a chance in the team.
However, the answer was probably the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa -- and by that time, Jadeja would be 38 years old. Yes, Kohli would be of a similar age but for an all-time great with little to no injury history, it's unlikely to matter as much.
One of the key defining factors for Jadeja has been his fielding, which would have declined by a lot by the time. India would want to carry as few players past their prime as possible, which means even Rohit would be dispensable.
Jadeja's white-ball career is visibly on the decline. A mere perusal of his IPL year-on-year returns will suggest the same.
Dropping him now will send a clear message to him to focus on red-ball cricket. As he takes time away from ODIs and T20Is, it'll help him elongate his career in Tests, a format in which he's still pretty much undroppable.
#2 Declined batting ability
Now, as of the present time, what goes against Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs is his batting ability.
He's one of the best Test all-rounders in the world because he has often backed his bowling returns with batting contributions. Tests allow him time to settle, rotate strike, pick his bowlers, and put up big runs on board, which he loves.
In ODIs and T20Is, India need quick, intelligent runs from the all-rounders. Seeing Jadeja as a finisher in that regard has backfired countless times in recent years.
His batting ability has declined immensely. In 2023, he scored 309 runs in 17 ODI innings at a seemingly decent average of 30.90 but his strike rate read 75, which is unacceptable for a batter mostly playing at number seven.
Apart from failing to line up death bowlers, Jadeja has had more than a handful of moments where his lack of mental application has cost India some important runs. Even from the perspective of the Champions Trophy, it seems wise to give him a break.
#1 Right time to use Axar Patel's best years
Perhaps the biggest factor behind Ravindra Jadeja's ODI snub would be the fact that India no longer need to compromise. The 2024 T20 World Cup was the perfect opening scene for Axar Patel, who looked ready to take over the duties of white-ball cricket.
The Gujarati left-arm spinner not only played more important knocks, including in the final, but also looked to have more trust from skipper Rohit for crucial overs at the World Cup. His all-round intelligence was as impressive as his six-hitting ability and he pushed his case further by taking a couple of stunning catches.
Axar is five years younger than Jadeja and is entering the peak of his career. His ODI strike rate at number seven reads 102.56 compared to Jadeja's 83.72.
Unlike Jadeja, Axar can also bat in multiple positions with ease. There won't be a better time to maximize his talent for the team.
Including him in the preparations for the Champions Trophy would be the perfect beginning of a transition culminating in fixing his ticket for the 2027 World Cup. By then, he'd ideally would have grown in experience and stature, while also offering the third spinner's role in Tests whenever needed.