He's Still Within Scheme Of Things: Ajit Agarkar Provides Big Update About Star All-Rounder’s Future

Ravindra Jadeja Is Still Within Scheme Of Things: Ajit Agarkar Provides Big Update About Star All-Rounder’s FutureChief selector Ajit Agarkar has cleared the air around Ravindra Jadeja’s absence from India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka by saying that the star all-rounder has not been dropped from the Indian team.

Speaking during a press conference in Mumbai on Monday (July 22) ahead of Team India’s departure for Sri Lanka, Agarkar said that it wouldn’t have made sense to take both Axar Patel and Jadeja for the short three-match series in Sri Lanka because then either of them wouldn’t have played all three games.

“I think it would have been pointless to take both him and Axar (Patel) for this short series. We know what Jaddu’s done. He’s had a terrific 50-over World Cup, so no, he wasn’t dropped at all. All options are open, but either of them wouldn’t have played all three games if we had taken both,” Agarkar said.

The former Indian pacer, who became chief selector last year, added that Jadeja is very important as a player, and with the big Test season coming up, he is well within the scheme of things.

“There’s a big Test season coming up where he’s likely to feature in a lot of the Tests, so I don’t think three games would have mattered. We probably should have clarified that (his absence) after the selection. He hasn’t been dropped. He’s still within the scheme of things and very important as a player,” Agarkar added.

The newly appointed India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, also highlighted Jadeja’s value and said that he is very important for upcoming Test matches.

“After the Sri Lanka tour, we’ve got a long break, a month-long break, and then we’ve got 10 Test matches. That’s not bad because playing continuously helps in Test matches, with the tour of Australia coming up as well. That’s what the challenge is all about, and that’s what I’m really excited about. Some of the players who missed out on the Sri Lanka tour, like Ravindra Jadeja, are very important for all those ten Test matches. I’m really looking forward to all the Test matches.”