India cricket veterans Zaheer Khan and Ajinkya Rahane have questioned Ravindra Jadeja’s effectiveness in the middle overs of One-Day Internationals (ODI) following India’s series-deciding defeat against New Zealand in Indore on Sunday, January 18. The discussion emerged after India lost the third ODI by 41 runs, conceding the series (2-1) – New Zealand’s first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil.

New Zealand’s batting dominance sets up victory in the series decider

Asked to bat first at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, New Zealand posted an imposing 337 for 8 in their 50 overs. The foundation of the total was a massive 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Mitchell scored a commanding 137, while Phillips complemented him with a fluent 106, dismantling India’s bowling plans during the middle and death overs.

For India, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana were the standout performers, picking up three wickets each. However, the lack of control from the rest of the bowling unit allowed New Zealand to maintain momentum throughout the innings.

In reply, India’s chase never truly gained traction after early losses at the top. Virat Kohli once again stood tall, scoring a brilliant 124 and anchoring the innings. He received support from Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and Harshit Rana (52), but the required rate continued to climb as partnerships failed to flourish.

India were eventually bowled out for 296, handing New Zealand a famous 41-run victory and sealing a historic series win. The defeat prompted post-match analysis, with attention turning to India’s middle-overs bowling and Jadeja’s role in that phase.

Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI performances under scrutiny

Jadeja endured a difficult series, struggling to make an impact with either bat or ball. Across the three ODIs, the experienced all-rounder scored just 43 runs and failed to take a single wicket, conceding 141 runs in the 25 overs he bowled.

In the opening ODI at Vadodara, Jadeja went for 56 runs in nine overs. He followed that with figures of 44 runs in eight overs at Rajkot, before conceding 41 runs from six overs in Indore, where he was introduced only in the 30th over. These returns raised concerns about his ability to control and influence the middle overs.

Zaheer Khan: “Containment is no longer enough”

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Zaheer emphasized how the ODI format has evolved, particularly during the middle overs. According to him, bowlers can no longer afford to play a purely containing role.

“The ODI format has changed. You can’t just be a containing bowler in the middle overs,” Zaheer said. He added that teams now view this phase as an opportunity to shift momentum, making wicket-taking a crucial requirement. Zaheer stressed that Jadeja must focus on being more aggressive and impactful with the ball in ODIs.

“Everyone sees that phase as an opportunity to shift momentum, so you can’t just contain; you must also be aggressive and take wickets. Ravindra Jadeja needs to focus on that aspect of his game in ODI,” the former India pacer added.

Ajinkya Rahane: “Can become predictable”

Ajinkya Rahane echoed similar concerns, suggesting that Jadeja’s lack of variation has made him easier to line up. Rahane noted that bowling at a similar pace, especially with only one fielder outside the circle, allows batters to settle.

He contrasted Jadeja’s approach with that of Axar Patel, highlighting how changes in pace, angles, and use of the crease can disrupt batters.

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“In ODIs, you must have variations. Though Jadeja is a proven performer across conditions, he bowls at a similar pace and can become predictable. With only one fielder up, it becomes easy for the batter if a bowler maintains the same speed. With Axar, he has variations; he changes his pace and uses angles at the crease really well. So, there is healthy competition, and I am sure Jadeja understands this, as he knows his game well,” said Rahane.

Rahane also underlined the importance of evolving with conditions, stating that while Jadeja is lethal on turning tracks, flatter wickets demand adaptability and fresh plans.

“Jadeja likes to keep his game simple with the ball. But you have to evolve based on conditions. On a turning track, he’s lethal. But on a flat wicket, he’ll have to adjust and devise different plans, using angles better,” added the ex-India Test captain.

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