IND vs NZ: Ravindra Jadeja should be blamed for the 2nd ODI loss?

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan offered a blunt assessment after India’s defeat in the second ODI against New Zealand in Rajkot, openly questioning certain aspects of the team’s composition. In particular, the former left-arm pacer raised concerns about Ravindra Jadeja’s role in the current ODI setup, expressing dissatisfaction with the Saurashtra all-rounder’s recent performances. Pathan felt that Jadeja, regarded as India’s premier all-rounder, has not been able to make the desired impact in recent outings, prompting a debate over his effectiveness and role balance in the side.

IND vs NZ: Time is coming near for Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs?

India, batting first in the contest, managed to post a competitive total of 284 for seven wickets. The innings was anchored by KL Rahul, who played a determined and composed knock of an unbeaten 112, holding the innings together through difficult phases. Shubman Gill also made a valuable contribution at the top of the order with a fluent 56, giving India a solid platform. Despite these efforts, Pathan pointed out that India failed to capitalize on promising starts, particularly during the middle overs. A noticeable slowdown in scoring prevented the team from pushing beyond the 300-run mark, which Pathan believed proved costly. He emphasized that such lapses in momentum at crucial stages continue to hurt India in tightly contested ODI matches.

Although Ravindra Jadeja helped steady the innings by adding a crucial 73-run partnership after a brief collapse in India’s top order, his individual contribution once again came under scrutiny. Jadeja was dismissed for 27 after consuming 44 deliveries, an innings that failed to provide the required momentum during a key phase of the match. While his presence at the crease offered some stability, the lack of scoring intent ultimately put added pressure on the batters around him.

Jadeja has struggled to consistently make an impact with the bat in the 50-over format in recent times, and Irfan Pathan was critical of this trend. The former all-rounder felt that, given his experience and role in the team, Jadeja needed to be more proactive and assertive. Pathan suggested that at 36, Jadeja must look to influence games more decisively, especially in the middle overs, rather than settling for a holding role that restricts the team’s scoring rate.

“Where did India lose the match? KL Rahul played with a strike rate of 90 [121.73], but Ravindra Jadeja only maintained a strike rate of 60 [61.36] during his innings of 27. Rajkot is also Jadeja’s home ground," stated former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan. 

"If there is an all-rounder after Kapil Dev in Test cricket, it’s Jadeja. But when it comes to ODI cricket, Jadeja struggles in rotating the strike. He should’ve played with a strike rate of 80 and Jadeja couldn’t do it. Jadeja hasn’t scored a fifty in ODIs since 2020. He is under plenty of pressure,” he added. 

The cricketer-turned-commentator went a step further by openly questioning Ravindra Jadeja’s place in the ODI squad, especially when compared to fellow left-arm all-rounder Axar Patel. He pointed out that Jadeja’s recent performances with the ball have not matched the standards expected of a frontline spinner in the 50-over format. According to him, Jadeja has struggled to consistently control the middle overs or pick up wickets in the last few ODI series, reducing his overall impact on matches.

Pathan suggested that when a player is unable to contribute significantly with either discipline, selection becomes a matter of balance rather than reputation. In contrast, Axar Patel has shown the ability to bowl with greater control and offer more value in recent outings. The former India all-rounder emphasized that team selection should be based on current form and effectiveness, especially with major tournaments ahead, and hinted that India may need to rethink their combination if Jadeja’s lean run continues.

"With the ball, Jadeja has managed only one wicket in the last five games at 200. These are poor numbers for any senior player. Axar Patel is no doubt ahead of him. Jadeja must perform in the next game, as it was a decisive factor in India’s defeat," Irfan concluded.