‘Terrible difference between words and actions’: Former India cricketer’s direct view on Ravindra Jadeja’s insult

India’s Ravindra Jadeja (PTI Photo) Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the selectors’ decision to drop Ravindra Jadeja from the entire five-match ODI series against New Zealand, pointing out what he sees as a discrepancy between the team management’s stated plans and his selection choices.India are scheduled to play five ODIs against New Zealand, starting on November 4 in Auckland. Axar Patel has been favored over Jadeja as a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, despite the Indian think-tank earlier suggesting that Jadeja remains part of its plans for the 2027 World Cup.Taking to his YouTube channel, Chopra said Jadeja’s absence had not been given 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 talked about it. You play him very little anyway. You said he is an integral part of our team, that he is part of your plans for the 2027 World Cup, but it doesn’t seem like that because there is a huge difference in what you say and what you do,” he said.Chopra pointed out that Jadeja featured against the West Indies but did not even play in the third match of that series. The all-rounder has now been left out of both the first three and last two matches against New Zealand.The former India opener believes Axar has moved well ahead of Jadeja in the race for a place in the 2027 World Cup squad, suggesting the selectors may have already settled on a preferred option.“You played him just now against the West Indies and you didn’t play him in the third match there either. You didn’t pick him here for the first three matches or the last two matches. Axar Patel has run so far in this race that it seems the selectors have decided on Ravindra Jadeja,” he noted.While Chopra acknowledged that Jadeja’s white-ball numbers have dipped, he said the selection pattern suggests India is gradually moving away from the veteran all-rounder. But he stopped short of saying whether it was the right decision.

Chopra questions Manav Suthar’s omission from the Test squad

Jadeja wasn’t the only selection decision that caught Chopra’s eye. The former cricketer also questioned why Manav Suthar was not included in India’s squad for India’s two-Test series against New Zealand.Chopra highlighted Suthar’s impressive start to his international career, pointing out that the spinner took 23 wickets in his first three matches. He also recalled that Suthar was named man of the match in his debut game and was India’s leading bowler during the tour of Sri Lanka.“Manav Suthar’s name is not there. Let it sink in. He has had a total three-match career in which he was Man 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 if a younger spinner could be considered for Washington Sundar.“I know only one of Jadeja or Manav Suthar can play and Jadeja is ahead in this race but you can’t ignore Manav Suthar’s 23 wickets in three matches. Could his name have been there instead of Washington Sundar?” Chopra remarked.The commentator also emphasized that the selectors should speak to Suthar and explain why he was overlooked after such a promising start. To underline the significance of his comebacks, Chopra compared his haul of 23 wickets in three Tests to scoring three hundreds in as many matches.

Indian ODI squad to tour New Zealand

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* and Kulhrajd Sihraj, Mo. 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 Kumar Kusharaj, Yash.K.Indian Test Team: Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (WK, availability subject to fitness), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Sundar Deep, N Red Kuldy, Kumar Deep, Kumar Kuldy, Sud Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

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