The selection process for the Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2024 has not been declared yet. But anticipation for the squad selection process has already been grasped by the cricket fans and the country’s cricket association. The participants have been demanded their provisional squad to be submitted by May 1 by The International Cricket Council. Discussions and debates have surfaced regarding the selection of deserving candidates who are to rumble for the ticket to flight to the Caribbean and the US.
The squad selection process of Team India for the World Cup has always been a challenging task. The spots are narrowed but contenders are many which in turn makes it tough to choose players. The selectors face a challenge as they sit down with captains and coaches to compose a powerful unit that could battle for honor.
The current situation is not that different. No less than 20-25 players are tattered and are repeatedly pushing to their limits through their impactful performances in the ongoing IPL 2024. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel are currently fighting for the World Cup spot. Both of them share the same skills: left-arm orthodox and left-hand bat. They both have an outstanding strike rate and are familiar with the art of pulling wickets on slow and sticky pitches. But when it comes to fielding Jadeja has the edge on it.
However, if the selection process of players is based on their performance in the IPL then Axar Patel excels compared to Jadeja. Both possess a striking rate of 131 but Axar is unquestionably leading with the ball, having more wickets and slightly a better economy rate. Axar was left with zero wickets in 4 games, on the other hand, Jadeja remained wicketless on 6 occasions.
Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are like my right eye and left eye- K Srikkanth
Former India chief selector K Srikkanth’s committee selected the 2011 World Cup-winning side and has also ended the debate between Axar and Ravindra Jadeja‘s selection in the T20 World Cup by stating that both the southpaw all-rounder must be in the final 15. Answering CricketNext query on ‘Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to the ‘World Cup’, the winner of the 1983 World Cup-winner opted that both of them (Axar and Jadeja) are equally important like both eyes of the human body.
“Jadeja will be in the 11 but Axar will also be in the 15. Axar is also a potential match-winner you have to understand that,” Srikkanth said.
“Axar can bat brilliantly, bowl brilliantly, field brilliantly. But the first choice will go to Jadeja at number 7 by sheer experience and the way he’s played international cricket in the past and he’s a big match player. Jadeja is a big match player but similarly, Axar Patel has done very well so both Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel will be there,” he stated.
“Probably the first nod will go to Jadeja for the first match but then probably Axar Patel. Both of them are equally important to me, it’s like my right eye and left eye, which one do I choose” he added.
No Place For Axar Patel- Tom Moody
Moody strongly disagreed with what Srikkanth had mentioned. Moody said he would not suggest picking both the southpaw all-rounders. Regardless of what, the former Australian Cricketer also suggested that Jadeja is not suitable to bat at number 7 in World Cups.
“I wouldn’t be taking both. I’d be taking Jadeja purely because I’m looking for the best left-arm spinning option. He’s the best left-arm spinner in the country. In my eleven, he’s not batting seven,” Moody replied to the CricketNext query on ‘Star Sports Press Room Show, Ticket to the World Cup’.
“I don’t think he’s good enough to bat seven in a World Cup side. He’s proven that with his strike rate. You need an impact-type player batting at seven.
“So if I’m playing two spinners, he’s batting at eight. Kuldeep’s batting nine and I’m playing two fast bowlers and I’m playing Hardik Pandya in the top. In the top six or seven to balance the side with an over or two of Dubai to give me that depth in bowling. So that’s the way I’d view it. Yes. Jadeja in the side. Axar narrowly misses out,” Moody added.
No Axar Patel in Irfan Pathan’s team
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan was more pleased with having more wrist spinners than finger spinners.
Irfan mentioned, “So if I’m slightly different in terms of, you know, mindset, what Thomas said, you need five good bowlers. That’s a must. What are your wicket-taking options like when you are talking about Ravindra? Batting at number 8 and playing as a spinner, I would rather have two wrist spinners in the line-up.”
Irfan also suggested that Yashavi Jaiswal can also be taken in as a bowler if selected. And with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, Jedeja will blend in completely with some of the wrist spinners to finish the line-up.
“So in my team, if two spinners, two fast bowlers are playing, and if Dube and Hardik can give me four overs, including Yashavi Jaiswal as one more bowler there, so I’ll have two proper wrist spinners.
“But when you talk about what the Indian Team might do, the Indian team might actually play Jadeja at number 7. And I agree with Tom on that front that’s a bit too high for him. This is where the selection is a bit tough. But you need to make a tough call this time around,” Pathan finalized.