As the debate around Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future in international cricket continues, the focus has now shifted to another senior Indian cricketer whose place across formats is hanging in the balance. With head coach Gautam Gambhir’s fresh vision for team composition, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s future in both red-ball and white-ball cricket is uncertain.
According to a report in the Times of India, Jadeja’s inconsistent performances over the past few months have raised questions about his long-term role. BCCI sources revealed that Gambhir, along with Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, is working on building a core group ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The planning for this crucial ICC tournament could begin with the upcoming Champions Trophy, but it remains to be seen if Jadeja will fit into this new strategy.
Gambhir has been clear about creating distinct core teams for different formats. While he hasn’t made major changes to the Test setup yet, he has a clear focus on building a strong foundation for the ODI World Cup. “It’s all about deciding when the transition needs to begin. The selectors will need to decide if they want to stick with Jadeja or move on now,” a BCCI source told TOI.
The report also stated that the selectors are considering dropping Jadeja from the ODI squad, especially after his poor batting returns at No. 7 over the past two years. Jadeja has struggled with a strike rate of just 75, and he was notably excluded from last year’s ODI tour of Sri Lanka shortly after his retirement from T20 internationals.
Will Jadeja Make the Champions Trophy Squad?
Currently, Axar Patel has emerged as the front-runner in the spin-bowling all-rounder slot, with Washington Sundar also in the mix. Kuldeep Yadav is the leading contender to be the sole specialist spinner in the Champions Trophy squad.
Sources further revealed that while Jadeja still remains in contention for the England Test tour and the Champions Trophy, the selectors will make their final decision by the end of this weekend. In Test cricket, Jadeja has had a tough time scoring, although his bowling has remained steady. There is increasing pressure to move on from him, particularly in the ODI format.
“For Test cricket, Jadeja still has a shot at making the team for the England tour due to the lack of options in the middle order. But the selectors will take a call during the home season,” the source added. “As for the Champions Trophy, pitches in Dubai have historically been favorable to slow bowlers, so the selectors will keep that in mind when finalizing the squad.”
The next few days will be crucial for Jadeja, as his inclusion in Australia for the upcoming tournaments hangs in the balance.
