If Axar Patel gets injured before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja will be our first choice: Abhishek Nayar

India's former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has shared his take on the Shubman Gill-led ODI side's likely contingency planning for the all-rounder position as the country prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament represents a critical juncture for the two-time champions.

Axar Patel has emerged as India's frontrunner for the role, with Ravindra Jadeja positioned as the essential insurance policy should circumstances force a change.

Speaking on JioHotstar's Out or Not Out, Nayar articulated the team's thinking on this hierarchy and explained why depth at the all-rounder position remains a pressing concern for India's World Cup planning.

"If something happens to Axar Patel before the World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja will come into the team,' Nayar said. He continued, 'Jaddu might not come back into the team, but if someone gets injured, the first name that will come to mind will be Jaddu. Because after Axar, there is no one," Nayar said.

Nayar opined that Axar Patel is the first-choice spin-bowling all-rounder at the moment, while Jadeja is his backup.

"Currently, the frontrunner is Axar Patel, and after him, Jaddu is still your insurance policy," he explained.

This statement underscores the limited depth India possesses in the all-rounder department for ODI cricket, a factor that has influenced team selection decisions in recent months.

Why is Jadeja currently outside the ODI setup?

Jadeja's recent absence from India's New Zealand ODI series sparked debate about his future in white-ball cricket. Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara offered insight into the team management's approach, suggesting that Jadeja may have been informed of his reduced role in ODI planning. Pujara noted that Axar has been given priority as India's main all-rounder in ODI cricket and continues to receive more opportunities.

"I believe so, because if you want to keep Ravindra Jadeja in ODI cricket, then he should have been selected. I'm sure it was communicated to him that he might not be selected because Axar Patel has been the main all-rounder in ODI cricket and is being given more opportunities," Pujara said.

This kind of communication reflects a deliberate strategic shift by the team management to build the World Cup squad around Axar's skill set and experience.

Pujara also noted that Jadeja has retired from T20 Internationals and suggested the team management may have directed him to focus exclusively on Test cricket.

"Looking at his age, I feel the team management might have told him that he is now only a part of Test cricket, so he should focus there, and that they are not looking at him for white-ball cricket. So, it could be the end of the road because, obviously, he has retired from T20 Internationals. I feel he might not be selected just for the ODIs," he added.