The ICC World Cup 2027 will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The BCCI selectors are likely to look beyond Ravindra Jadeja for the ICC World Cup 2027 tournament, as Axar Patel is likely to be favored as the premier spin all-rounder on the road to the ICC event in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Axar's outstanding all-around performance in the first ODI against England in Birmingham earned him the title of Player of the Match. Before hitting an undefeated fifty to lead India to a convincing six-wicket victory in the chase, he initially delivered career-best ODI statistics of 4/62.
Times of India reported that with Kuldeep Yadav still warming the bench, India's current lineup for international matches, such as the current tour of England, lacks a genuine frontline spinner. Rather, the spin-bowling all-round duo of Washington Sundar and Axar have been relied upon by the club management to take on the role.
According to the report, the selectors are reluctant to reinstate Jadeja as their preferred spinner in the format. The team management is looking for a spinner who can contribute enough to place in the top seven because there aren't many good spin-bowling all-rounders, and Kuldeep doesn't offer much value with the bat.
“Jadeja’s bowling in white-ball cricket hasn’t been up to the mark for some time, according to the report. He played in the Champions Trophy 2025 because India expected turning tracks in Dubai. His power-hitting, too, isn’t at the level it was during the ODI World Cup 2019," a BCCI source told Times of India.
Ravindra Jadeja last played an ODI for India against New Zealand early this year and made 43 runs and failed to take a wicket. On the other hand, Axar Patel has played 3 ODIs in South Africa, where the ICC World Cup will be played next year, and has scored 8 runs and has one wicket to his name.
Ravindra Jadeja made 2905 runs in 210 ODIs with 13 fifties to his name and has 232 wickets with best bowling figures of 5/33.
Axar Patel has scored 715 runs and taken 79 wickets in 72 ODIs, with 4 fifties and best bowling figures of 4/62.