Ravindra Jadeja’s long ODI career could be nearing its end, with India’s selectors reportedly planning to back Axar Patel as their first-choice spin-bowling all-rounder for the upcoming 2027 World Cup.
According to a report in The Times of India, the team management is impressed with Axar’s recent performances and sees him as a better fit for India’s current ODI combination.
Axar played a key role in India’s opening ODI win against England in Birmingham. He produced his best ODI bowling figures of 4/62 and then scored an unbeaten half-century to guide India to a comfortable six-wicket victory.
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India’s current overseas ODI setup has focused on spin-bowling all-rounders instead of playing a specialist spinner. Kuldeep Yadav has remained on the sidelines, while Axar and Washington Sundar have been given the responsibility of handling the spin department.
The selectors are reportedly not considering Jadeja as their first-choice spinner in ODIs anymore. With India looking for players who can contribute with both bat and ball, Axar’s ability to bat in the top seven has become an advantage.
“Jadeja’s bowling in white-ball cricket hasn’t been upto the mark for some time, according to the report. He played in the Champions Trophy 2025 because India expected turning tracks in Dubai," a BCCI source said while speaking to The Times of India.
“His power-hitting, too, isn’t at the level it was during the ODI World Cup 2019," the source added.
However, Axar’s ODI numbers in South Africa have not been impressive so far. In three matches, he has scored only eight runs and picked up one wicket.
Jadeja also had a difficult ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year. He scored 43 runs in three matches at an average of 14.33, while India went down 2-1 in the series.
Jadeja's last ODI outing came against New Zealand on January 18, 2026, where he remained wicketless, bowling six overs, conceding 41 runs and scoring 12 runs.