Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh has questioned the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for not including Ravindra Jadeja in the ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia.
Jadeja last played for India in ODIs in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The left-arm orthodox spinner scalped five wickets in five matches of the marquee tournament at an impressive economy rate of 4.36.
Jadeja has been in tremendous form in the red-ball version. The left-hander scored 516 runs in five Test matches on the England tour and played a key role in the team’s success.
Furthermore, the southpaw scored an unbeaten 104 against the West Indies in the opening Test at Ahmedabad and also scalped four wickets in the second essay and thus was awarded Player of the Match.
“With regards to Jaddu [Jadeja], I mean look, at the moment to take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible. Of course he was there in the Champions Trophy squad, because we took those extra spinners with the conditions there [in UAE],” said Agarkar in the press conference on Saturday.
Commenting on Agarkar’s statement, Sadagopan Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel, “The selector is saying because we took extra spinners for the Champions Trophy Jadeja was in the team. Is he some extra baggage? He’s a white-ball legend. Will you pick Jadeja in the team only when you need extras? The standard answer you give for appointing Shubman Gill as the T20I vice-captain and ODI captain is his performance in England. In that same England series, Jadeja also shone.”
“Jadeja has also just scored a century and picked up four wickets in the first West Indies Test. You’ve rewarded Dhruv Jurel with an ODI selection for scoring a 100 against the same West Indies. So, they reward Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel but wave goodbye to Jadeja.”
Ramesh also questioned Varun Chakravarthy’s exclusion from the ODI squad, stating the mystery spinner brings an X-factor to the table.
“Irrespective of how good the other spinners are, Varun Chakravarthy is the only spinner who provides the X-factor. You’ve dropped him also. Yet, you keep picking Harshit Rana all the time,” said Ramesh.
The first ODI between India and Australia will be played on October 19.
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