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The Indian national cricket team and the BCCI are in preparation for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. As the team has blocked the best possible combination for the world, several players have been brought into the ODI team. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is 36, has also made his comeback for the Indian cricket team after four years.
Amid all of the ongoing permutations and combinations in the ODI set-up, there is no sign of the experienced spin-bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja in New Zealand. Does the BCCI close all doors for Jadeja ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup? Former Team India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has made some valuable comments on the topic.
Ravindra Jadeja's ODI career coming to an end?
Cheteshwar Pujara, former teammate of Jadeja, sensed that there might be some communication between the cricket board and Jadeja. In the presence of Axar Patel, also a spin bowling all-rounder, chances for Jadeja have reduced to represent the team in 50-over cricket.
"I believe so, because if you want to keep 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 told JioStar, as quoted by news agency IANS.
Cheteshwar Pujara mentions Ravindra Jadeja's age
Looking further at his former teammate's age, Pujara spotted a roadblock for Ravindra Jadeja. The former batter claimed that the Indian cricket board might have instructed the 37-year-old to focus only on Test cricket. If Cheteshwar Pujara's comments prove right, then the veteran all-rounder is not going to represent India in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
"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," Pujara expressed.
"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," he added.
Under one condition, Ravindra Jadeja could be in the 2027 World Cup squad
In the recent past, the Indian cricket team had to deal with multiple injury issues. Injuries are a part of the game as well, so the team management may have to keep someone as a stand-by to cover Axar Patel.
If Axar is somehow unable to play, who will be the best replacement for the team? Pujara mentioned that it will be none other than Ravindra Jadeja who deserves to be in the team if the selection of Axar Patel becomes uncertain.
"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," Cheteshwar Pujara said during the same conversation.
