Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has shown great support for veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, expecting him to play an important role in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Jadeja, who was recently pulled out of India’s three-match ODI series against Australia, is still an important part of Shastri’s long-term plans.
Despite his absence, Jadeja has been in excellent form, particularly in red-ball cricket. He delivered back-to-back great performances in Test series against England and the West Indies, proving his importance as a match-winning batsman and bowler.
For the Australia trip, selectors chose fellow spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar over Jadeja in the white-ball format.
However, Ravi Shastri emphasized that Jadeja’s expertise and poise under pressure make him crucial to India’s long-term goals.
“2027 everyone talks. Do not discount or write off Ravindra Jadeja. He will be in the mix, there is no question about that. He’s still fielding like he is 7-8 years younger than what he is. It is just a privilege to watch him chase a ball on the field. I can understand (why he was not selected) in Australia because there is Axar, and there are only 3 matches, but come South Africa, where you have to play in different venues against different teams, both of them might play,” Ravi Shastri said on the ICC Review.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised Jadeja for his exceptional fitness and adaptability, noting that the all-rounder continues to evolve his game even in the latter stages of his career.
“I think I need to get some of what he is taking, because he does not seem to be ageing at all. He’s the modern day Benjamin Button. I know he picked me off a couple of times when he first started. Warney always told us about him from the start, and once again, he was not wrong. It is hard to say that he is the best fielder of all time, but you put him right there in the absolute upper echelon,” said Ponting.
Jadeja’s stellar performances in the recent home Test series against the West Indies have propelled him to a career-high 25th position in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings. Renowned for his all-round prowess, Jadeja has held the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings since 2022.
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