Team India was handed a shock ahead of their Super 4 match against Pakistan on Sunday, September 4, 2022, when it was announced that ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the rest of Asia Cup 2022 with an injury. Jadeja has been an influential member of the Indian cricket team for a long time and also played an important role in the previous match against Pakistan, where he was India’s joint-highest scorer with 35 runs.

The BCCI announced Axar Patel will be replacing Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian squad quickly, who was earlier made a part of the three-man reserve for the Men in Blue in the tournament. While Patel has delivered every time he has been called upon, doubt remains over whether he will be made part of the Indian team against Pakistan in the all-important Super 4 match on Sunday.

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Jadeja’s all-rounder capabilities are often regarded as second to none in the Indian team. He was India’s joint-highest scorer against Pakistan in the group stages when he played a knock of 35 runs off 29 balls, with two boundaries and as many over boundaries.

In the next match against Hong Kong, he registered a figure of 1/15 while bowling, with an economy rate of 3.75, which made him India’s most effective bowler against them.

While Axar Patel has replaced him in the squad, many experts have revealed their doubts over whether the 28-year-old could replicate Jadeja’s match-winning performances.

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Jadeja batted at no.4 against Pakistan in place of Rishabh Pant, who was not picked in the match. It remains to be seen if Patel can bat in the middle order against the Pakistan bowling attack. If he is selected, then Rishabh Pant, the only left-arm batter in the squad will also be needed in the team to face the threats of Pakistani spinners Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz. This means that Dinesh Karthik will have to be taken off the board to make the team.

However, a surprise option could be Deepak Hooda. The 27-year-old impressed this year since he made his India debut on February 6. Although he is an opening batter, he can be expected to play in the middle order, as was seen against Ireland and Zimbabwe.