T20 World Cup 2024: Ravindra Jadeja vs Axar Patel, who'll be first-choice all-rounder? Irfan Pathan, Tom Moody, Kris Srikkanth discuss
Published - 29 Apr 2024, 04:07 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:10 AM
Former cricketers Tom Moody, Irfan Pathan, and Kris Srikkanth named their choice for the all-rounder's spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup 2024 between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. The experts weren't amazed by the Chennai Super Kings player's batting and claimed that his numbers weren't impressive.
The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 is expected to be announced in the next few days. There have been various questions related to the squad selection as apart from skipper Rohit Sharma no player has been guaranteed a place in the team.
One of the common topics that has been hogging the headlines in Indian cricket is the choice between Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja. Both the all-rounders have been magnificent of late for the Indian team as well as their franchises, scoring runs as well as taking wickets at crucial times.
In the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Axar Patel has excelled with both bat and ball whereas Ravindra Jadeja has shown great form with the ball but his strike rate with the bat has come under the scanner. The all-rounder has a strike rate of 131.93, which many feel isn't enough to take the finisher role in the team.
Tom Moody while talking about the choice between Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel made a massive claim related to Jadeja. He stated that the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder isn't good enough to bat seven in a World Cup side. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained:
“I'd be taking Jadeja purely because I'm looking for the best left-arm spinning option. He's the best left-arm spinner in the country. In my eleven, he's not batting at No.7. I don't think he's good enough to bat seven in a World Cup side. He's proven that with his strike rate. You need an impact-type player batting at seven."
Irfan Pathan, who was part of the discussion, also was on the same page related to Ravindra Jadeja's batting, stating that the all-rounder isn't a great finisher and his strike rate is not good for international cricket. He added:
"This is what I'm really scared about when it comes to the World Cup. Look, my worry is with the T20 World Cup, we pretty much sorted as far as the top-order batting is concerned. We pretty much sorted in the middle overs as well. If we're thinking Ravindra Jadeja is a number seven batter, you need a good finisher. His numbers are not that great as far as the strike rate is concerned at the international level."
It's like my right eye and left eye which one do I choose - Kris Srikkanth on Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja
Kris Srikkanth also talked about the same but claimed that both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will be in the squad. He admitted that the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder will get the nod ahead of his counterpart, adding that both are match-winners. He added:
"I'll tell you what Jadeja will be in the 11, I mean adding on to whatever Irfan had said about his strike rate but Axar will also be in the 15. Axar is also a potential match winner you have to understand that. Axar can bat brilliantly, bowl, field brilliantly. But the first choice will go to Jadeja at number 7 by sheer experience and the way he's played international cricket in the past and he's a big match player.
"Jadeja is a big match player but similarly Axar Patel has done very well so both Jadeja and Axar Patel will be there. Probably the first nod will go to Jadeja for the first match and then probably Axar Patel. Both of them are equally important for me, it’s like my right eye and left eye which one do I choose," he concluded.
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Ankitjit is an author at Cricketaddictor. He has been working with the organization since April 2023... Read more
