Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Mohammad Kaif hit out at the selectors for not picking all-rounder Axar Patel for the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, calling him a better player than Ravindra Jadeja. Axar last played in the 50-over format during the Australian tour in October 2025 and has since been overlooked for the following series in South Africa and New Zealand.
When he finds himself out of the ODI squad, the veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s form has come under scrutiny due to his declining returns with both bat and ball. Jadeja has failed to defend his place in the team over the past few months due to his inability to take wickets and finish the innings. Amidst his poor form, Mohammad Kaif questioned the selectors for not picking Axar and praised his ability to hit sixes and mix effectively in the powerplay.
“If you have to pick one of these two, Axar is way ahead of Jadeja, even in ODI cricket. His strike rate, batting ability and ability to hit sixes – Jadeja doesn’t have that. We have seen it in IPL too. In white ball cricket, Axar is way ahead in batting. Even in bowling, he is ahead. Axar is not even very good in bowling. squad Why are you backing Reddy against New Zealand who are weak against spin. Anyway you’re sitting Arshdeep so it’s four pacers,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif further suggested playing Axar and Jadeja together in the playing eleven instead of Nitish Kumar Reddy to give the team better balance.
“I want Jadeja and Axar to play together. If Axar was there in the last game instead of Reddy, there would have been more balance. There is a difference in the bowling styles of Jadeja and Axar. People say they are both left-arm spinners – they are – but they both have different bowling styles. Jadeja comes on after the powerplay. Axar can take the new bowling with the new ball. The ball in the Champions Trophy too,” he added.
In his last five ODIs, Jadeja has managed just one wicket, averaging 257 with the ball, while conceding runs at an economy rate of 6.11. With the bat, he scored 87 runs from four innings at a moderate strike rate of 90.62. On the other hand, Axar fulfilled his duties as an all-rounder during his last series in Australiascoring 75 runs from two innings at an average of 37.50 and chips in with three crucial wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.45.
However, with the T20 World Cup just a month away, he has taken a break from the ongoing series. With India not playing many matches in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, Jadeja is racing against time to prove his worth in the ODI side.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 17, 2026