Ravindra Jadeja has announced his retirement from T20I cricket after the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in West Indies. The all-rounder had been a regular member of the Indian T20I squad for a long time. His left-handed batting, left-arm spin and fantastic fielding helped India win many T20I matches.
Fans will always remember his unbeaten 44 in the bilateral T20I against Australia at Manuka Oval in 2020, just like the three-wicket hauls against Namibia and Scotland in T20 World Cup 2021. With Ravindra Jadeja retired, India will need a spin-bowling all-rounder now.
In this listicle now, we will look at the two such players who can take Jadeja’s place in the Indian T20I playing XI after his retirement.
1. Shahbaz Ahmed can replace Ravindra Jadeja
Shahbaz Ahmed is a left-handed batter and a left-arm spinner just like Jadeja. He is a decent fielder as well. The uncapped player has turned up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in his IPL career so far.
Ahmed can be groomed as the next T20I all-rounder for India. He has done well in the IPL, be it batting in the lower middle-order or turning the game with his spin bowling.
2. Axar Patel
Axar Patel showed in the T20 World Cup that he is ready to take the place of Jadeja as the main spin-bowling all-rounder of India. Whenever the team needed, Patel stood up and delivered the goods for India in the batting, bowling and fielding department.
Looking at the final match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against South Africa, Patel was promoted to bat at number five when India lost three wickets in quick succession. He absorbed the pressure with Virat Kohli and smacked big hits to help the team win. It is time that Patel gets his value and a regular place in the Indian playing XI for every T20I going forward.
