Ravindra Jadeja joined Kapil Dev in an elite list during his unbeaten 61-run knock against England in the quest for the target of 193 . Ravindra Jadeja‘s efforts didn’t prove to be enough and India suffered a 22-run defeat. But Ravindra Jadeja’s batting heroics saw him join a huge list. The veteran all-rounder has become only the fourth cricketer to score more than 7000 runs and scalp over 600 wickets in international cricket. Ravindra Jadeja made his India debut in 2009. His Test debut came 3 years later.
Ravindra Jadeja produced a gritty knock to keep India in the hunt during their chase of 193 against England in the third Test at Lord’s. On Day 5, India were reduced to 82 for 7 and then to 112 for 8 after the top and middle order were blown away by fiery spells of fast bowling from Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Brydon Carse on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Just when it seemed England would wrap up the Test in the morning session and enjoy their Lord’s lunch, Ravindra Jadeja dug in and refused to go down without a fight.
What looked to be a tame defeat ended in heartbreak following a spirited rearguard effort from Jadeja and India’s Nos. 10 and 11 — Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. While top-order stars including Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill threw their wickets away on Day 4 evening, leaving India reeling at 58 for 4 at stumps, Bumrah and Siraj showed grit and character, facing 84 balls between them and offering dogged support to Ravindra Jadeja.
The partnerships for the final two wickets lasted 212 balls, keeping England on the field until the third session. However, India still fell short of the target by 22 runs. Ravindra Jadeja, along with Bumrah and Siraj, added 58 runs and remained unbeaten on 61 after facing 181 balls — but their efforts could not undo the damage caused by the earlier collapse.
Ravindra Jadeja batted with caution alongside the tail, refusing to offer England a whiff of opportunity. The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder struck a six in the 48th over off Chris Woakes to signal his intent, but India then went 107 deliveries without another boundary.
Ravindra Jadeja refrained from taking risks even against Chris Woakes, Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root, who found far less assistance from the surface than Stokes, Archer or Carse. This defensive play by Ravindra Jadeja irks Former Indian legendary spinner Anil Kumble for his ultra-defensive approach to the game and he expressed his views on the same.
Anil Kumble slams Ravindra Jadeja’s batting style on Day 5
India’s heartbreaking loss at Lord’s turned the spotlight on Ravindra Jadeja’s approach with the bat. Anil Kumble felt Ravindra Jadeja missed a chance to be more aggressive, especially against bowlers like Woakes and Root, suggesting a bolder mindset might have changed the game’s outcome.
Team India came tantalizingly close to securing a heroic victory against England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Monday. Ravindra Jadeja stood tall against a daunting England bowling attack as the team kept losing wickets at the other end. Even the tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja tried their bit to support Jadeja, but fate had the word ‘defeat’ written for the tourists. As the pundits sit and analyse what went wrong for the Indian team, some feel that Ravindra Jadeja could’ve done a lot more than scoring an unbeaten 61 off 181 balls.
Former India spinner Anil Kumble, one of the greatest to play the game, has questioned Jadeja’s approach against England, saying he expected a more positive approach from the all-rounder as he has played on tougher pitches against better bowling attacks.
“The two bowlers he could have potentially taken on were Chris Woakes, who is slightly slower in the air, and then Bashir and Joe Root. I know they’re off-spinners taking the ball away, but it wasn’t turning square. So there wasn’t a lot to worry about in terms of spin or the outside edge. Jadeja has played on tougher pitches and against better bowling. I thought he could have taken a chance,” Kumble said
He didn’t deny how tough the situation was, but still felt that a few bold shots could’ve turned the game.
“You want to take those risks. Yes, there were a few runs he rightly declined because Bumrah and Siraj were at the other end, but he could have chanced it a bit more,” he added.
Ravindra Jadeja’s knock was full of calm and patience. But with India chasing a close target and the lower order at the crease, some think he could have tried to speed things up. Kumble’s take reflects that feeling—that Ravindra Jadeja had done well to survive, but maybe survival wasn’t enough in that moment. Given his experience in difficult situations, many expected him to switch gears at some point.
With England taking a 2–1 lead in the series, India will be hoping to bounce back when the two teams meet in the fourth Test, starting 23 July in Manchester.
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