Jadeja Vs Axar Patel: Selection Dilemma for Team India in ODIs
Ravindra Jadeja vs Axar Patel contest will always be there with having similar skills, and both could also feature in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy 2025. One experienced, the other successor, it will be interesting to see who the management gives a place in the starting 11. While Jadeja is in the final stages of his career, Axar will look to maximize the things in the provided opportunities.
For a decade, Jadeja has been the backbone of the Indian team. He has been phenomenal and has contributed immensely to the team’s growth and success. He fulfilled the team’s need for a finisher at the back end and is always sharp with the ball. His career speaks volumes about his team role and significant contributions.
Ravindra Jadeja vs Axar Patel – Let’s have a look at the stats of the last 10 ODI innings of both players:
| Player | Inns | Runs | Avg | SR | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 10 | 182 | 30.3 | 91.0 | 39 |
| Axar Patel | 10 | 187 | 20.8 | 76.3 | 44 |
| Player | Inns | Wkts | Eco | SR | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 10 | 13 | 4.43 | 38.5 | 28.5 | 5/33 |
| Axar Patel | 10 | 8 | 4.78 | 54 | 43 | 2/33 |
Why is the Ravindra Jadeja vs Axar Patel Battle?
Ravindra Jadeja
At the sunset of his career, Jadeja’s form sees a dip for a player of his stature. In the last 10 ODIs, Jadeja has scored a mere 182 runs at a strike rate of 91. What is concerning is the dot percentage of 42 is the major concern because of the ODI format. It can be argued about the position and situations he came to bat at, but the fact remains that he has looked off-color for a while in the ODI format.
And with the ball. In the last 10 ODIs, he has picked around 13 wickets with an economy of 4.43. Against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023, he was smashed all around the park with no scalp to his name. Though the stats look good on paper, it was mainly due to a 5-wicket haul against South Africa in the World Cup 2023.
Axar Patel
No one can forget his heroics in the T20 World Cup final, Coming to ODIs he is seen as a successor of Jadeja, Axar has been in decent touch with an inconsistent and limited number of opportunities. Apart from bowling, Axar has shown his potential with the bat as well. Axar has done a decent job while batting across the positions 6 to 8. However, his T20 prowess and ability to bat up the order, if needed, can play in the management’s mind.
With the ball in 10 innings, he has got 8 wickets to his name at an economy of 4.78. His strength is to bowl targeting the stump line makes the job of any batsman difficult. With Jadeja in the squad, it was obvious that Axar did not get consistent chances as an all-rounder, because India would also want to have a variety in the playing 11.
Why should Axar be given an Opportunity over Jadeja?
By looking at the recent 10 innings of both the players, Jadeja with decent performance has contributed a bit more than Axar in batting and bowling but indian management will have a look towards the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2027, and would like to capitalize on Axar who is currently in a red-hot form. Axar did not get much opportunity in the longer format of white ball cricket and also missed the last ODI World Cup 2023 campaign due to a last-minute injury.
And during the recent Sri Lanka ODI series, India did not include Jadeja in the squad. So there is a certain possibility that selectors could think of shifting toward a different option over Jadeja to back upcoming left-arm all-rounders like Axar Patel and Shahbaz Ahmed.
So now it is the perfect opportunity for the team management who could also think about going ahead with Axar Patel from the upcoming ODI series against England. Axar is a perfect player who could be given a consistent longer run and can fill the shoes of Jadeja.
