India is in the process of making strategic decisions for the 2027 ODI World Cup, evaluating the roles of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule emphasised that upcoming series would play a crucial role in deciding “who can be of utility” for the tournament.
At present, Axar is engaged with the T20I squad at the Asian Games, while Jadeja has rejoined the ODI team after a brief absence, starting the series with West Indies by conceding 54 runs in ten overs without a wicket. Over the last year, Jadeja’s record stands at just one wicket in seven ODIs, with a concerning bowling average exceeding 350. Axar, conversely, has claimed eight wickets in his past six ODIs with an improved average of 30.87.
Despite these numbers, Bahutule remains optimistic about Jadeja’s progress as a bowler over the past six months. “For me, he [Jadeja] has always been a utility player,” he commented from Guwahati prior to the second ODI against West Indies. “He has definitely improved as a bowler, his contributions extend beyond just bowling.”
India anticipates that conditions in South Africa will influence team selections. While not replicating South African pitches, they are mindful of characteristics like bounce, which might benefit fast bowlers more than spinners. “We can’t really replicate the same pitches as South Africa,” Bahutule noted, discussing the approach to adapting to varying playing conditions.
This strategy extends to India’s pace attack. Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Prasidh Krishna form the main seam-bowling options against West Indies, with other players like Jasprit Bumrah and Yash Thakur also in the selection pool. Bahutule sees these series as key to determining optimal team combinations, including bowling line-ups.
Kuldeep Yadav, meanwhile, appears to be a more solid fixture in India’s plans. Known for his match-winning performances, Kuldeep has consistently showcased strong form. Bahutule praised his commitment: “Kuldeep has always been a match-winner for India,” and remarked on his willingness to improve areas of his game.
“Most of the boxes are ticked,” Bahutule concluded, citing fielding and team composition for South Africa as areas needing fine-tuning. He appreciates the environment being cultivated by head coach Gautam Gambhir and remains optimistic about India’s direction leading into the World Cup.
The focus now is to refine skills, especially fielding, and adapt strategies in line with expected South African conditions, positioning India to perform their best at the World Cup.
