ANALYSIS: Ravindra Jadeja can be a victim of Patel’s power play, selectors gave indications by making Akshar the vice captain in T-20.

Last Updated:January 14, 2025, 17:39 IST

Akshar Patel was selected as the vice-captain of the Indian team for the T-20 series against England. After this selection, it was speculated that Akshar Patel would be included in the team for the Champions Trophy in place of 36-year-old Ravindra Jadeja.read more

New DelhiIndian cricket is going through a phase of change these days. Some are retiring, some are creating an atmosphere of leaving the game, while there are some faces who do not want to leave the field. After the Champions Trophy, signs of major changes including the captaincy of the team have started appearing. But there is one change that can be taken in the middle of the Champions Trophy.

When the Indian team is announced for the Champions Trophy, the absence of one name may surprise you, an indication of which the selectors have shown in the selection of the T-20 team against England. The player who was made the vice-captain of the team against England can make a place in the team selected for the Champions Trophy. That is, from the indications that have started coming in, it is clearly visible that the selectors are now in a mood to give preference to Akshar Patel in place of Ravindra Jadeja.

First replacement of Ravindra Jadeja then retirement!

Gujarat all-rounder Akshar Patel, who made his ODI debut in 2014, is now being seen as the replacement for Ravindra Jadeja. Both the players are adept in left hand bat and left arm spin bowling. Jadeja has been leaving his mark with his excellent fielding but Akshar Patel has also not faded in fielding. Akshar Patel has played 60 ODI International matches till now. But he has not been able to make his place permanent in any format yet. After Jadeja’s retirement in T20, his numbers definitely look solid but he has not been able to overtake Jadeja in ODI and Test yet. While Akshar has played 60 ODIs so far, Ravindra Jadeja has played 197 ODI matches so far. But now when there is talk of handing over cricket to the young generation, there are indications that the coach and captain are also agreeing to it.

Patel vs Jadeja

Both of them started their career as left arm spinners and later made tremendous improvements in their batting and fielding. If we compare the first 60 ODI matches of both the players, we will know whose chariot ran faster on the field. Akshar Patel batted 39 times in 60 ODI matches and scored 568 runs. His highest score here has been 64 not out. Till now he has been able to score fifty only twice. In this format so far he has hit 27 fours and 27 sixes. Ravindra Jadeja’s statistics in his first 60 ODIs are very interesting. If we look at Ravindra Jadeja’s statistics, he batted 42 times in his first 60 matches, in which he scored 900 runs. Here 78 was his highest score and during this time he had scored 5 half centuries in his name. During this period he had hit 64 fours and 11 sixes. Talking about both the batsmen, Axar Patel is better than Jadeja in terms of strike rate. While Jadeja scored runs at a strike rate of 77.85 in the first 60 ODIs, Axar scored runs at a strike rate of 93.57. Akshar’s batting average is 19.58, whereas Jadeja’s average during this period was 28.12. In bowling, Jadeja had bowled 459.2 overs in the first 60 ODIs and took 61 wickets, which included 4 wicket hauls twice. If we look at Akshar, he has bowled 463.3 overs so far and has 64 wickets in his name but he has not taken even a single 4 wicket haul till now. Even though both are equal in performance, the characters fit the form and demand of the present time, hence don’t be surprised if Ravindra Jadeja is first replaced and then retired.