Ex-India chief coach Ravi Shastri has supported the single-minded fashion all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja with his belief that India would need him as one of their key players for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Ravi Shastri, who still cannot digest the omission of Ravindra Jadeja in the three-match ODI series against the Australian side, strongly fanned the flame that the legendary Indian left-hand all-rounder is simply too good, too steady, and too clever to ever be out of the playing XI of the future.

Ravi Shastri calls Ravindra Jadeja “indispensable” for India’s long-term plans

Jadeja has been in exceptional touch recently, particularly in Test cricket, where he delivered back-to-back stellar performances against England and the West Indies. His all-round brilliance, both with the bat and the ball, reaffirmed his status as one of India’s most complete cricketers. For the ODI series in Australia, the selectors opted for Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, but Shastri said Jadeja’s absence was situational rather than permanent.

“2027 everyone talks. Do not discount or write off Ravindra Jadeja. He will be in the mix, there is no question about that. He’s still fielding like he is 7–8 years younger than what he is. It is just a privilege to watch him chase a ball on the field. I can understand (why he was not selected) in Australia because there is Axar, and there are only 3 matches, but come South Africa, where you have to play in different venues against different teams, both of them might play,” Shastri said on The ICC Review.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting also lauded Jadeja’s fitness and longevity, calling him “the modern-day Benjamin Button” for his ability to defy age. “I think I need to get some of what he is taking because he does not seem to be aging at all. He’s the modern-day Benjamin Button. I know he picked me off a couple of times when he first started. Warney always told us about him from the beginning, and once again, he was not wrong. It’s hard to say he’s the best fielder of all time, but you put him right there in the absolute upper echelon,” Ponting said.

Jadeja’s recent run of form in the home Test series against the West Indies propelled him to a career-high 25th position in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings. Having consistently dominated the ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings since 2022, Jadeja continues to showcase the elite fitness, adaptability, and skill that make him one of India’s most reliable match-winners.