Agarkar reassured fans that the decision was strategic and aimed at giving Jadeja a break before a demanding Test season
22 July, 2024
PHOTO: AFP
India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar has clarified that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been rested, not dropped, from the ODI team for the upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka.
Despite initial speculation suggesting that the 35-year-old Jadeja had been excluded from the squad, Agarkar reassured fans that the decision was strategic and aimed at giving Jadeja a break before a demanding Test season.
"It would have been really pointless to take both Axar and Jaddu for a three-match series," Agarkar said.
"He has had a terrific World Cup. Not at all dropped. Either of them wouldn't have featured in games had we taken him. There's a big test season coming up. I think probably we should have clarified it when the squad was announced. He is still part of the format. He is a very important player for us," he added.
Jadeja boasts a remarkable ODI record, accumulating 2,756 runs at an average of 32.42 with a strike rate of 85.06, and has claimed 220 wickets at an average of 36.07 with an economy rate of 4.88.
Despite his impressive contributions, the team management is exploring future options, with Axar Patel emerging as the primary spin all-rounder and Washington Sundar as the second choice.
Team India is set to depart for Sri Lanka on July 22. The tour will kick off with a three-match T20I series starting on July 27, followed by a three-match ODI series.
India's squads for Sri Lanka series
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, Mohammed Siraj.
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman 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.
IND vs SL Schedule:
T20I Series:
1st T20I: July 27 - 6:30 PM - Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
2nd T20I: July 28 - 6:30 PM - Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
3rd T20I: July 30 - 6:30 PM - Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
ODI Series:
1st ODI: August 2 - 2:00 PM - R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
2nd ODI: August 4 - 2:00 PM - R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
3rd ODI: August 7 - 2:00 PM - R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo
.jpg)
