The Indian men’s selection committee gathered in Guwahati to set the teams for a one-off Test and a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Notably, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was left out of both teams.
Jadeja has played 89 Tests and 210 ODIs for India. Currently, he is with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2026 season after transferring from Chennai Super Kings last year. He was part of India’s last Test lineup against South Africa in November 2025 and also played in the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year.
Along with Jadeja, fellow all-rounder Axar Patel was also omitted from both squads. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that Jadeja was rested for the Test team, while the management aims to explore other options ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“Regarding one-day Cricket, we have 15-16 months before the World Cup. We want to assess our options, especially considering the conditions in South Africa and to give younger players some exposure. We know what Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel can do. This is the time to offer opportunities to other players,” Agarkar stated.
Agarkar also discussed Harsh Dubey, who made it into both the Test and ODI teams against Afghanistan. Dubey is seen as a suitable replacement for Jadeja and Axar due to his all-round skills. Agarkar noted that the young player aligns well with the team’s needs and expressed hope he could demonstrate his abilities at the International level.
“We need players who can contribute with the bat and also serve as a front-line spinner or seamer. We believe he fits this requirement. We are optimistic that he will show his skills when given the chance, as we have been observing him over the past couple of years and he seems capable at this level,” Agarkar added.