- If Axar Patel gets injured before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja is our first choice: Abhishek Nayar Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar feels that Ravindra Jadeja is Axar Patel’s main contingent ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
- Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel (Photo Source: Twitter) Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has expressed his views on the Shubman Gill-led ODI team’s likely contingency planning for the all-rounder position as the country prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
- The tournament represents a critical moment for the two-time champions.
If Axar Patel gets injured before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja is our first choice: Abhishek Nayar Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar feels that Ravindra Jadeja is Axar Patel’s main contingent ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel (Photo Source: Twitter) Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has expressed his views on the Shubman Gill-led ODI team’s likely contingency planning for the all-rounder position as the country prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament represents a critical moment for the two-time champions. Axar Patel has emerged as India’s favorite for the role, with Ravindra Jadeja positioned as an essential insurance policy should circumstances require a change.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Out or Not Out’, Nayar explained the team’s thinking on this hierarchy and explained why depth at the all-rounder position remains a pressing concern for India’s World Cup planning. “If anything hpens to Axar Patel before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja will join the team,” Nayar said. He continued, “Jaddu may not return to the team but if someone gets injured, the first name that comes to mind will be Jaddu.”
Because after Axar, there is no one left,” Nayar said. Nayar felt that Axar Patel is currently the first-choice spin bowling all-rounder while Jadeja is his replacement. “Currently Axar Patel is the favorite and after him Jaddu remains your insurance policy,” he said.
This statement highlights India’s limited all-round depth in ODI cricket, a factor that has influenced team selection decisions in recent months. Why is Jadeja not in the ODI setup at the moment? Jadeja’s recent absence from the India and New Zealand ODI series has sparked debate over his future in white-ball cricket.
Former India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has given an insight into the team management proach and suggests that Jadeja may have been aware of his reduced role in the ODI planning. Pujara noted that Axar has been given priority as India’s leading all-rounder in ODI cricket and continues to be given more opportunities. “I think so because if you want to keep Ravindra Jadeja in ODI cricket then he should have been picked.
I am sure he was made aware that he might not be picked because Axar Patel was the leading all-rounder in ODI cricket and he will be given more opportunities,” Pujara said. This type of communication reflects a conscious strategic shift in team management to build the World Cup team based on Axar’s skills and experience. Pujara also noted that Jadeja had withdrawn from the T20 Internationals and hinted that the team management might have asked him to focus solely on Test cricket.
“Given his age, I think the team management may have told him that he is only part of Test cricket now so he should focus on that and that they are not considering him for white-ball cricket.” So this could be the end of the road as he has parently withdrawn from the T20 Internationals. I think he may not be picked for just ODIs,” he added.
