Making a statement! After ODI omission, Ravindra Jadeja to play Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra | Cricket News
Mumbai: Star India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is not a part of India’s ODI team, will turn out for Saurashtra in their second round match of the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot starting from Friday.The 36-year-old was dropped from the ongoing three-match ODI series against Australia.
Since the last season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear to the players that they must turn out for their state teams in domestic cricket as long as they are fit and available and not on national or India A duty. Jadeja has always turned out for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Last season, the 36-year-old ace left-arm spinner took 12 wickets in two Ranji matches, with best figures of seven for 38. Overall, Jadeja has taken a staggering 569 wickets at an impressive average of 24.20 and has amassed 8143 runs at 45.49, with 14 hundreds and two triple hundreds.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: India batsman Ravindra Jadeja in batting action during day three of the Fifth Test Match between England and India at The Kia Oval on August 02, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
“He informed us that he will play for Saurashtra in this round of the Ranji Trophy. He has always been keen to play for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy,” Saurashtra Cricket Association president Jaydev Shah told TOI on Thursday. With the selectors trying out young left-arm spinners like Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar in the two India A matches against South Africa A, Jadeja will aim to utilise the Ranji outing to get match practice ahead of the home two-Test series against South Africa starting at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata from November 14. In the first week of November, the veteran allrounder had scored a century (104 not out) and too four for 54 in the second innings to star in India’s innings & 140-run crushing win over West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Jadeja for 2027 ODI World Cup?
After not being picked for the ODIs, Ravindra Jadeja had said he wasn’t surprised to miss out on India’s upcoming ODI series in Australia, adding that the team management has communicated clearly with him about the decision.Jadeja, who will turn 37 this December, retired from T20Is following India’s World Cup triumph last year but remains eager to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – MARCH 09: Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrates following the team’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
“Selection is not in my hands. I want to play, for sure,” Jadeja had said at his press conference after the second day’s play against West Indies in the Delhi Test. “At the end of the day, team management, selectors, coach and captain have their thoughts and they will have their reasons for not selecting me for this series. They have talked to me, it was not a surprise for me after the squad was announced.“It is a good thing that they communicated the reason behind my omission. I am happy about that. But whenever I get a chance next, I will try and do what I have done all these years. “If I get a chance in the World Cup and there are many ODIs before and if I do well there, it will be a good thing for Indian cricket. Winning a World Cup is everyone’s dream. We had narrowly missed out the last time, the next time we will try and make up for it.”Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had also maintained that Jadeja is still part of the 2027 ODI World Cup plans.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – MARCH 07: Ravindra Jadeja of India warms up during a India Nets Session at ICC Academy on March 07, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
“With regards to Jaddu, I mean look, at the moment to take two left-arm spinners to Australia is not possible. He is clearly in the scheme of things with how good he is, but there will be some competition for places,” Agarkar had said. “Of course he was there in the Champions Trophy squad, because we took those extra spinners with the conditions there in the UAE.“At the moment we could only carry one and get some balance in the team with Washy (Washington Sundar]) and Kuldeep there as well. I don’t think we are going to need more than that in Australia. It’s a short series, you can’t accommodate everyone and unfortunately at the moment he is missing out, but it’s nothing more than that.”So far, Jadeja has featured in 204 ODIs, claiming 231 wickets and scoring 2806 runs. In his last ODI appearance during the Champions Trophy, he picked up five wickets in as many innings while maintaining an economy rate of 4.35.
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Recently, former India captain and head coach Ravi Shastri had heaped laurels on Ravindra Jadeja and claimed that there is no question over him being in plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. “2027 everyone talks. Do not discount or write off Ravindra Jadeja. He will be in the mix; there is no question about that. He’s still fielding like he is 7-8 years younger than what he is. It is just a privilege to watch him chase a ball on the field,” Ravi Shastri said while speaking on the ICC Review Podcast.
