New Delhi, 31 October (H.S.): Former India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja may not feature in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, but his prospects of being part of India's plans for the 2027 Cricket World Cup are not entirely over. Former Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar believes Jadeja continues to serve as a crucial backup option for the national side and could be recalled if Axar Patel suffers an injury ahead of the global tournament.

During an episode of JioHotstar's programme 'Out or Not Out', JioStar experts Abhishek Nayar and Cheteshwar Pujara discussed Jadeja's future in India's ODI setup, Kuldeep Yadav's limited opportunities in the format and the importance of having five specialist bowlers to win major tournaments.

Assessing Jadeja's chances of returning to the ODI squad, Nayar described the veteran all-rounder as an insurance option for the team, particularly in the event of an injury to Axar Patel.

Jadeja may or may not return to the squad, but if someone gets injured, he will be the first name that comes to mind. After Axar Patel, there is currently no other alternative. Axar is leading the race for that role, while Jadeja remains your insurance policy. If anything happens to Axar before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja will come into the team, Nayar said.

Pujara, meanwhile, felt that Jadeja's omission from the ODI squad for the New Zealand series could indicate the direction in which the team management sees his future in the format.

He observed that Axar Patel is increasingly being entrusted with the role of India's primary all-rounder in ODI cricket. According to Pujara, the team management may have advised Jadeja to concentrate on Test cricket rather than include him in its plans for the limited-overs formats.

Jadeja has already retired from T20 International cricket, and his return to the ODI setup could therefore prove difficult, Pujara suggested.

### Kuldeep's Batting Limits Regular Opportunities

Discussing Kuldeep Yadav's limited appearances in India's ODI combination, Pujara explained that batting depth remains an important consideration, particularly when the team plays in overseas conditions.

He said the ideal combination requires an all-rounder at No. 7 and a bowler at No. 8 who can also contribute with the bat. Although Kuldeep is an outstanding bowler, his batting abilities do not match the requirements of that position.

Consequently, the Indian team tends to favour players who can offer greater batting support lower down the order, Pujara explained.

### Bowlers Win Major ODI Tournaments: Nayar

Nayar emphasised that while batting depth is particularly important in T20 cricket because of its aggressive nature, ODI cricket provides teams with greater opportunities to adapt their strategies according to match conditions.

He argued that a long batting lineup cannot necessarily guarantee championship success if a team fails to take wickets consistently. While relatively few teams have won major titles primarily through the contributions of their No. 7 or No. 8 batters, the presence of a fifth bowling option can often prove decisive.

Referring to the final of the previous ODI World Cup, Nayar pointed to Australia's ability to take wickets at regular intervals as a defining factor in the outcome. Australia's bowlers restricted India before their batting unit completed the chase to secure the title.

According to Nayar, the ability to take wickets and maintain pressure on opposition batters remains the decisive factor in winning major tournaments in ODI cricket.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar