Have Axar Patel and Ravindra been dropped? Ajit Agarkar explains reason for absence in IND vs AFG Test and ODI 2026 squads
When the BCCI announced India's squads for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series on May 19. The two most striking absentees were Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who have, between them, dominated India's spin bowling for the better part of a decade.
Have Axar Patel and Ravindra been dropped? Ajit Agarkar explains reason for absence in IND vs AFG Test and ODI 2026 squads originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ravindra Jadeja rested for the Afghanistan series but confirmed as India's number one Test spinner. Axar Patel dropped from both squads amid poor form across IPL and international cricket. Young left-arm spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar called up as future investments.
Ravindra Jadeja rested, Axar Patel dropped: India's spin plans shift ahead of Afghanistan series When the BCCI announced India's squads for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series on May 19, the two most striking absentees were Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who have, between them, dominated India's spin bowling for the better part of a decade. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was careful to frame Jadeja's absence as a rest rather than a drop, and confirmed that he remains India's premier spinner in Test cricket. However, the fuller picture carries more nuance than that reassurance suggests.
Jadeja missed Rajasthan Royals' previous IPL 2026 match due to a niggle and since the standalone Test against Afghanistan falls outside the World Test Championship cycle, the selectors chose to manage his workload. “Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for the Test. He remains an integral part of the Test team and remains our No 1 spinner.