Ravindra Jadeja rested, not dropped from India's ODI squad vs Sri Lanka: Reports

Ravindra Jadeja was one of the major omissions from India's ODI squad that was named for the series against Sri Lanka. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made themselves available for the series with Jasprit Bumtah rested.

Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal were the seasoned spinners dropped from the Sri Lanka squad. Jadeja took 16 wickets in the ODI World Cup 2023 which was his last ODI for India. He became the second Indian spinner to take a fifer in ICC tournaments. He also has the best economy for bowlers with 30-plus wickets since 2023.

Meanwhile, multiple media outlets have claimed that Ravindra Jadeja was rested and not dropped from the Sri Lanka series. A few others have claimed that he was dropped and thus questioned his future in the ODI format. Jadeja has not played ODI cricket since India's World Cup final loss. However, he played 26 games last year which hints at the fact that he was given a long rope by the selectors to prove himself.

The BCCI decided to not include Jadeja in the Indian ODI squad for the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Whether he is rested or dropped is still a question. However, his being not included has opened up opportunities for the likes of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar as the duo are part of the ODI and T20I squads.

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"There are only six ODIs, including the three in Sri Lanka, before next year's Champions Trophy. The selectors want to utilize the handful of games by giving more opportunities to Axar Patel and Washington Sundar," a BCCI source told Hindustan Times.

Jadeja a veteran of 197 ODIs since 2009 has been very central to India's success in the format over the years. In 44 matches since the 2019 World Cup, he has scored 644 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 84. With the ball, he took 44 wickets at an average of 37, with an economy rate of 4.9. That is as good as it gets from an all-rounder in the 50-over cricket. He is a brilliant fielder to boot and a team man as always.

Nothing Wrong With Ravindra Jadeja's Performance, Management Looking At Other Options: BCCI Source

"Nothing wrong with Jadeja's performance. The management just wants to look at other options as we have to build a team for the future," the source added.

The BCCI source further said that Jadeja's ODI career is still not over and he will continue to play a decisive role in India's Test side in the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

"Jadeja is outstanding in Test cricket. His bowling in home conditions is unmatchable. He will be important for India's World Test Championship bid," the source added.

Meanwhile, India plays three T20Is and three ODIs against Sri Lanka from July 26-August 7. The T20Is will be played in Pallekele followed by the ODIs in Colombo.

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