‘Massive difference between words and actions’: Ex-cricketer on Jadeja’s snub

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the selectors’ decision to leave Ravindra Jadeja out of the entire five-match ODI series against New Zealand, pointing to what he sees as a contradiction between the team management’s stated plans and its selection choices.

India are scheduled to play five ODIs against New Zealand, beginning in Auckland on November 4. Axar Patel has been preferred over Jadeja as the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, despite the Indian think tank previously indicating that Jadeja remains part of its plans for the 2027 World Cup.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said Jadeja’s absence had not received enough attention and questioned the credibility of the assurances given about the veteran’s future in the team.

"Ravindra Jadeja not being there is a big thing. Many people haven't spoken about it. You are playing him very little anyway. You said that he is an integral part of our team, that he is part of your 2027 World Cup plans, but it doesn't seem like that, because there is a massive difference being seen in what you say and what you do," he said.

Chopra pointed out that Jadeja had featured against the West Indies but was not played in the third match of that series either. The all-rounder has now been left out of both the first three and the final two matches against New Zealand.

The former India opener believes Axar may have moved well ahead of Jadeja in the race for a place in the squad for the 2027 World Cup, suggesting the selectors might already have settled on their preferred option.

"You played him against the West Indies just now, and you didn't play him the third match there either. Here, you have neither picked him for the first three matches nor the last two matches. Axar Patel has run so far ahead in this race that it seems like the selectors have made up their minds about Ravindra Jadeja," he observed.

While acknowledging that Jadeja's white-ball numbers have declined, Chopra said the selection pattern appeared to indicate that India were gradually moving away from the experienced all-rounder. He, however, stopped short of declaring whether that was the right decision.

Jadeja was not the only selection decision that drew Chopra's attention. The former cricketer also questioned why left-arm spinner Manav Suthar had not been included in India's squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand.

Chopra highlighted Suthar's impressive start to his international career, pointing out that the spinner had taken 23 wickets in his first three matches. He also recalled that Suthar was named Player of the Match in his debut game and had been India's leading bowler during the tour of Sri Lanka.

"Manav Suthar's name is not there. Let that sink in. He has a three-match career in total, in which he was the Player of the Match in the first match. He was the pick of the Indian bowlers in Sri Lanka," he said.

Chopra acknowledged that Jadeja remained ahead of Suthar in the pecking order, but wondered whether the younger spinner could have been considered instead of Washington Sundar.

"I know only one of Jadeja or Manav Suthar can play, and Jadeja is ahead in that race, but you cannot ignore Manav Suthar's 23 wickets in three matches. Could his name have been there in place of Washington Sundar?" Chopra observed.

The commentator also stressed that the selectors should speak to Suthar and explain why he had been overlooked after such a promising start. To underline the significance of his returns, Chopra compared taking 23 wickets in three Tests to scoring three hundreds in as many matches.

First three ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna* and Kuldeep Yadav.

Fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK, VC), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.

India’s Test squad: Shubman Gill [C], Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul [VC], Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant [WK, availability is subject to fitness clearance], Dhruv Jurel [WK], Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.