Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir’s Message to Ravindra Jadeja Before SL ODI Squad Selection

As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the tour of Sri Lanka, some bold decisions were made. The appointment of Suryakumar Yadav as the T20I captain over Hardik Pandya surprised many, while Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from the ODI squad was another unexpected move. Jadeja, who recently retired from T20I cricket, was anticipated to lead India’s spin attack in Sri Lanka, but his name was missing from the roster. With only six ODIs remaining before the Champions Trophy next year, many viewed Jadeja’s exclusion as a potentially long-term decision.

However, it has been reported that Jadeja was not dropped but merely rested for the Sri Lanka series. BCCI selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar, in consultation with head coach Gautam Gambhir, reportedly informed Jadeja that he remains the team’s premier spin-bowling all-rounder in one-day cricket. According to a report from ESPNcricinfo, the selectors wanted to experiment with Axar Patel, seeing if he could replicate his T20 success in the 50-over format. Jadeja has been assured of his return in upcoming assignments.

The report also provided insights into Yuzvendra Chahal’s situation. Despite being part of the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, Chahal was not selected for either the T20I or ODI sides. The selectors have placed his case on hold, preferring other spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Jadeja during the T20 World Cup campaign.