Jadeja returned to the ODI squad against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram after eight months.
Veteran spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's 2027 ODI World Cup hopes remain active as India's coaching staff continues to evaluate his batting utility alongside Axar Patel, spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said on Tuesday (September 29).
After missing India’s previous series against Afghanistan (at home) and England (away), the 37-year-old Jadeja returned to the ODI squad against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram, where he failed to claim a wicket and conceded 54 runs in his 10 overs.
With Axar currently unavailable due to the Asian Games commitment, India will use the upcoming assigments to assess their options ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“With Axar also being around, the tournaments or series which we play in the coming time, we will be able to assess performances or who can be of utility,” said Bahutule on the eve of the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati.
“But, Jaddu with his batting skills, (and) the experience he gets in, is definitely doing well and I am sure he will be looked into in the coming time.”
“For me, he has always been a utility player. He is somebody who can contribute with the bat as well as with the ball. He has definitely improved as a bowler over the last six months.”
It appeared that Jadeja has been sidelined from India’s white-ball scheme of things after the New Zealand series earlier this year, with Axar, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar offering alternative spin options.
However, with Axar and Washington being away on Asian Games duty, Jadeja returned to the ODI setup for the first time since the New Zealand series.
Bahutule was particularly impressed by Jadeja’s performance in the previous two-Test series in Sri Lanka, where he picked up eight wickets.
“I thought (in) the Test matches he bowled really well in Sri Lanka, as well as now with the ODIs. It is just the first game after a long period, but he has done well.”
Bahutule also expressed immense confidence in Kuldeep following his brilliant, match-winning spell in the first ODI. The left-arm wrist-spinner claimed 4/40 and his prized scalps of Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, and Jewel Andrew completely turned the game, helping India restrict the West Indies to 295/7 after the visitors had raced to 135 without loss in the 20th over.
“Kuldeep has always been a match winner for India. There are certain aspects where he feels that he needs to improve. He will go into the nets, work at it, and there are aspects where he is very confident about because he has been a part of this team for years. He went for a County stint as well.
“He comes into a series well prepared and again, he is a player who every team would want to have because he is always lively on and off the field. At the same time, his unique skills help us to perform in any conditions, and being a wrist spinner, a Chinaman bowler definitely adds value to the team.”
Naman Dhir received his debut ODI cap in the opening game, while Mohammed Siraj warmed the bench. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is being groomed as a backup seam-bowling all-rounder to Pandya, opened the bowling. The combinations, particularly in the bowling department, are still being fine-tuned.
“These series are a good opportunity for us to also see different type of combinations we can have in the team.
“We can definitely look into different bowlers who can bowl in different phases of the game. So that’s what the thought process was to give Nitish the new ball.
“He is a good bowler and somebody who can bat also. During this series we will come across certain changes but those changes are purely to understand who we can be placed well in the right position.
“When it comes to the fast bowlers, it will be important to see who would actually be the three fast bowlers, maybe a fourth seamer — an all-rounder. That is yet to be seen.
“Ample opportunities will be given to all the bowlers in different phases. So you might see Gurnoor (Brar) bowling with the new ball, things like that.”
Sairaj Bahutule said India's main goal ahead of the 2027 World Cup is figuring out the right squad combination for bouncy pitches and different playing conditions in South Africa.
“Moving ahead is going to be again (about) the combination which is ideal for the conditions in South Africa. Most of the boxes are ticked. We have in our squad, there is a lot of experience, there is a lot of youth coming up. Opportunities also are there for a lot of these guys who are knocking at the doors,” Bahutule said.
He acknowledged that fielding remains an area of constant work, particularly given the challenges posed by dew and changing conditions under lights.
“Fielding is something which we constantly are trying to see how we can improve as much as possible. Because it’s not easy under light, sometimes when the dew comes in, it is a challenge.
“Sometimes we have dew, sometimes we don’t. So that’s again a work in progress and the effort has been put in constantly that is seen.”
“I think we are moving in the right direction and headspace.”
(With PTI Inputs)