Jadeja’s career on the line as Gambhir plans core ODI team: Reports

Ravindra Jadeja might reportedly face the axe as India under head coach Gautam Gambhir aim to prepare for the ODI World Cup 2027 and thus look to create a core 50-over team, starting with the ICC Champions Trophy (CT) 2025. 

"Gambhir has been very assertive about creating core teams according to formats. As of now, he hasn't quite tinkered with the longer formats but has a clear vision for creating a strong base for the ODI World Cup. He is keen on giving exposure to a few more identified players," Times of India quoted a source close to BCCI as saying.

India are scheduled to announce their squad for the CT 2025 on January 11 tentatively and the sword hangs on Jadeja. 

Jadeja, who has not played even a single ODI since the World Cup final in 2023 in Ahmedabad, has not scored even a single century in the format, despite regularly batting at number seven.

In the last four years, which must be considered as the right frame of judgement given how sparse ODI cricket has become, Jadeja has played 29 matches and, in those games, has batted at number seven in 16 innings, scoring only 302 runs at a middling strike rate of 76.5. 

In the same period, Axar Patel has batted at number seven on 11 occasions and has smashed a fifty and scored at a strike rate of 93, the need of the hour. 

In terms of bowling, too, Axar is not too far behind as in the same period, he has 19 wickets in 20 games while Jadeja has 32 in 25. Their economy rates (4.6) are the same. 

With Kuldeep Yadav likely to be the first choice spinner for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India would want a secondary spinner who can contribute with bat at number seven. In that case, Axar looks like the guy with time in hand at the age of 30.

"It's all about when the selectors decide the transition needs to kick in. They will discuss if they want to go with a safe option in Jadeja or move on right now,” the source further said

"Even in Test cricket, he has struggled to get going, though his bowling has been steady. There is an urge to move on from him, especially in the ODI format. It will be a tough call in the coming days."