Ravindra Jadeja rested, not dropped, for Sri Lanka ODIs: Report

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has reportedly been rested and not dropped from India’s ODI team for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka . After India’s squad was announced for the three ODIs next month, it was reported that the 35-year-old was dropped, but according to an ESPNCricinfo report, Jadeja has only been rested.

Jadeja has scored 2756 runs and taken 220 wickets in 197 ODI matches for India.

The selectors have seemingly reassured him that he is only being given a break and that he remains India’s primary spin-bowling all-rounder. The report claims there are two reasons why the selectors have given Jadeja a breather.

“Both the selectors and (newly appointed coach) [Gautam] Gambhir are keen to give Axar Patel a chance in ODIs and see if he can play the same role he has successfully performed in T20Is. With just three ODIs in the Sri Lanka series, the selectors and Gambhir agreed that having two left-arm spin-bowling allrounders would be a surplus,” the report said.

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“The second reason is that Jadeja is a key member of India’s Test line-up both home and away, a crucial cog in balancing their XI. India are scheduled to play 10 Tests—five at home and five in Australia—from September 2023 to January 2024, and they are looking to keep Jadeja, who is 35 and has missed a number of matches with injury over the last three years, as fresh as possible for those matches.”

In addition to ‘Jaddu’, Kuldeep Yadav’s name is missing from the T20I squad even though he picked 10 wickets in five matches during the T20 World Cup.

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The report states that like Jadeja, Kuldeep has also been rested and not dropped from the shortest format.

“Yes, Kuldeep, who is part of the ODI squad, has been given a break from the T20Is and remains India’s frontline spinner in that format. The selectors want Ravi Bishnoi to gain more experience and believe he is the best option to be India’s second wrist-spinner behind Kuldeep,” the report said.

India squads for the tour of Sri Lanka:

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.