Axar Patel got the nod for the left‑arm spin role in India’s upcoming five‑match ODI tour of New Zealand, eclipsing Ravindra Jadeja.
Chopra pointed out that Jadeja had featured against the West Indies but was rested in the third match, and that he has now been omitted from all five games. The omission came after a series of debates over selection for the 2027 World Cup.
‘Ravindra Jadeja not being there is a big thing,’ said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel. ‘You’re playing him very little anyway. You said he’s integral to the team… but it doesn’t seem like that.’
Chopra also slammed the exclusion of left‑arm spinner Manav Suthar from the Test squad, citing his 23 wickets in three Tests and a Player of the Match award on debut.
The selectors may have already decided to lean towards younger talent, with Axar Patel ranking ahead of Jadeja in the race for a World Cup spot.
India kick off the series on Nov 4 in Auckland, and the team will look to prove their selection logic in the first match.