Overview
- Reports on Thursday say India’s selection committee now views Axar Patel as its preferred spin‑bowling all‑rounder for the 2027 ODI World Cup following recent performances.
- Axar was named Player of the Match at Birmingham after taking career‑best 4/62 and then scoring an unbeaten half‑century to steer India to a six‑wicket win in the first ODI.
- Selectors have flagged Ravindra Jadeja’s recent white‑ball form — including 43 runs and no wickets in the New Zealand ODI series — as weakening his case for the lead role.
- Team balance on the England tour has favoured two spin all‑rounders, Axar and Washington Sundar, while specialist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has often been left out because his batting adds little depth.
- The reports say Harsh Dubey is being groomed as Axar’s backup and that this is a reported selection blueprint rather than a formal World Cup squad announcement, leaving Jadeja’s long ODI career uncertain.