Star India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was the big name missing on the Indian team sheet for the first ODI on Friday against the West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.
Not only the first ODI, but Jadeja, who was named the vice-captain for this ODI series, has been ruled out for the first two matches and could also miss the third ODI, the BCCI announced soon after the toss had happened in Trinidad.
Ravindra Jadeja set to miss the second ODI also
The reason for Jadeja’s exclusion, the board said, is that the left-handed has sustained a knee injury ahead of the first ODI. In fact, there had been reports of Jadeja’s injury last night, and it was confirmed by the board after the toss. Shreyas Iyer, the Kolkata Knight Riders skipper, has been named the deputy to Shikhar Dhawan in Ravindra Jadeja’s absence.
“Team India all-rounder Mr. Ravindra Jadeja has sustained an injury to his right knee and has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against West Indies,” the BCCI tweeted.
“The BCCI Medical team is monitoring his progress and a decision on his participation in the third ODI will be taken accordingly.”
Here is the board’s update on Jadeja’s situation:
Team India all-rounder Mr. Ravindra Jadeja has sustained an injury to his right knee and has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against West Indies.
The BCCI Medical team is monitoring his progress and a decision on his participation in the third ODI will be taken accordingly.
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 22, 2022
Axar Patel, who is a like-for-like back-up for Jadeja with left-arm spin option and someone who could bat down the order, got into the playing eleven. This is Axar’s first ODI match since October 2017! He had featured in 38 ODIs so far but was cast aside when Jadeja returned to the side in late 2017.
Jadeja is coming off a good individual tour of England, where he notched up his maiden overseas century in the Edgbaston Test and played a crucial hand of 46* in the second T20I. He remained, though, non-threatening with the ball.
The 33-year-old all-rounder is a crucial part of the Indian team and the management will be hoping that Jadeja attains his fitness, if not by the third ODI, but at latest by the time for the 5 match T20I series that will begin on July 29 and will be played at three venues: Trinidad, St Kitts and Florida (USA).
As far as the first ODI is concerned, West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and elected to bowl first amid rainy conditions.
Here are the two teams:
Teams:
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson(w), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna
West Indies (Playing XI): Shai Hope(w), Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran(c), Rovman Powell, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales
