Following a request from the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have agreed to participate in next month's ODI series against Sri Lanka. While both players and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is immediately after winning the T20 World Cup, Jadeja's failure to make the ODI cut has led to speculation about his future. However, Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI's chief selector, has stepped forward to explain the decision.
Indian veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma agreed to play the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month at the request of new head coach Gautam Gambhir. The duo announced their retirement from the T20I format within hours of India winning the T20 World Cup, and Ravindra Jadeja followed suit shortly after. However, the latter was not recalled for the ODI series, raising worries about his future in white-ball cricket. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained why the all-rounder was not picked in the ODI squad.
The fact that Jadeja wasn't picked for the ODI squad has raised doubts about his role in the upcoming Champions Trophy. With the tournament set for February, India's preparation is lean, with only six ODIs scheduled: a three-game series against Sri Lanka from August 3 to 7, followed by three matches at home against England.
Addressing the media on Monday, Agarkar made it clear that Jadeja hasn't been discarded and remains a key part of the strategy for the Champions Trophy. He explained that the selection often comes down to a choice between him and Axar Patel, and given the intensity of the upcoming Test season, playing these three games wasn't essential. The chief selector emphasized that Jadeja is very much still in the picture.
The exclusion of Sanju Samson was another talking point, especially after he delivered a brilliant century in his most recent ODI outing. Agarkar acknowledged that being left out is always frustrating for a player, but urged a look at who was selected instead. He mentioned that some players were sent to Zimbabwe instead, noting that fitting everyone into a 15-man squad is always a difficult balancing act.