Ajit Agarkar Confirms Jadeja Still in India's ODI Plans Despite Exclusion from Australia Tour

Ravindra Jadeja remains a key figure in India’s ODI strategy despite his exclusion from the upcoming three-match series against Australia, according to BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Agarkar clarified that the decision to omit the spin-bowling all-rounder, who sealed India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier this year, was driven by tactical considerations tailored to Australia’s pace-friendly conditions. With Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav selected as the primary spinners, the squad prioritises balance, but Agarkar emphasised Jadeja’s enduring value as a versatile batter, bowler, and exceptional fielder.

“Taking two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible, but he is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is,” Agarkar stated, noting that Jadeja’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad reflected spin-heavy conditions in that tournament. The 15-man ODI squad, led by new captain Shubman Gill, includes only one left-arm spinner, Sundar, alongside wrist-spinner Yadav, as the selectors opted for a seam-heavy attack suited to Australian pitches. Agarkar highlighted workload management for pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, the latter rested for the ODIs but named in the T20I side, to minimise injury risks ahead of a gruelling season.

The squad also features emerging all-rounder Nitish Reddy, whose selection aims to test his white-ball potential after promising Test performances. “Reddy has shown a lot of promise… It gives us an opportunity to see what he can do in white-ball cricket,” Agarkar said, underscoring the rarity of players who can both bat and bowl pace effectively.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Jurel’s maiden ODI call-up reflects his suitability for lower-order roles, complementing KL Rahul and contrasting with Sanju Samson’s top-order batting. Agarkar noted that Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma are “very close” to selection but face stiff competition from a settled top order featuring Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

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Agarkar also addressed Hardik Pandya’s absence, revealing that the all-rounder, injured before the Asia Cup final, will begin rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence next week. The selector reiterated the board’s mandate for players to participate in domestic cricket when available to stay sharp, a policy enforced since 2023.

With the Australia tour starting October 19 in Sydney, followed by matches in Adelaide and Melbourne, India’s revamped squad aims to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup, while keeping stalwarts like Jadeja firmly in the fold.

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