Gautam Gambhir, the new Indian team coach, has revealed that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is extremely important for the side after he was not included in the ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour.
India is slated to play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs from July 27 onwards in Sri Lanka.
The three T20Is will be played on July 27, 28, and 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The 3 ODIs will be played on August 2, 4, and 7 and will be hosted by the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Ravindra Jadeja, along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had retired from T20Is after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win. However, he was still expected to be part of the India ODI squad as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were included in the squad.
BCCI selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir cleared the air about Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from the India ODI squad. Instead of Jadeja, India chose to include Akshar Patel and Washington Sundar in the ODI squad as spin all-rounders. There is also Riyan Parag who can bowl some off-spin if needed.
Speaking during a press conference in Mumbai on Monday (July 22) ahead of Team India’s departure for Sri Lanka, Agarkar said that it wouldn’t have made sense to take both Akshar Patel and Jadeja for the short three-match series in Sri Lanka because then either of them wouldn’t have played all three games.
“I think it would have been pointless to take both him and Axar (Patel) for this short series. We know what Jaddu’s done. He’s had a terrific 50-over World Cup, so no, he wasn’t dropped at all. All options are open, but either of them wouldn’t have played all three games if we had taken both,” Agarkar stated.
Agarkar also highlighted that with a lengthy Test season coming up for India, Jadeja will be an important player for the team and remain in the scheme of things.
“There’s a big Test season coming up where he’s likely to feature in a lot of the Tests, so I don’t think three games would have mattered. We probably should have clarified that (his absence) after the selection. He hasn’t been dropped. He’s still within the scheme of things and very important as a player,” Agarkar added.
Not only Agarkar, but Gautam Gambhir highlighted the importance of Ravindra Jadeja for the Indian team.
He said: “After the Sri Lanka tour, we’ve got a long break, a month-long break, and then we’ve got 10 Test matches. That’s not bad because playing continuously helps in Test matches, with the tour of Australia coming up as well. That’s what the challenge is all about, and that’s what I’m really excited about. Some of the players who missed out on the Sri Lanka tour, like Ravindra Jadeja, are very important for all those ten Test matches. I’m really looking forward to all the Test matches.”
(PTI inputs)
