'Jadeja didn't take enough risks to win'; former Indian cricketer criticises all-rounder's innings in Lord's Test

LONDON: India appeared headed for defeat in the third Test even before the lunch break on the final day, following a dramatic collapse of their middle order. Despite the dire situation, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja displayed remarkable resilience, holding off the English bowling attack until the final session. His composed and determined knock of 61* off 181 balls is being hailed as one of the most patient innings in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Jadeja fought a lone battle as wickets fell in quick succession around him, receiving only limited assistance from the lower order. Jasprit Bumrah, batting at No. 10, showed resilience with a hard-fought 5 runs off 54 balls, while Mohammed Siraj added 4 runs from 30 deliveries. Despite their efforts, India fell agonisingly short, losing by 22 runs. The spirited resistance from Bumrah and Siraj earned praise from Test cricket enthusiasts.

While Jadeja's fighting innings earned acclaim from several former cricketers, including Indian great Sunil Gavaskar, there were also voices of criticism. Gavaskar commended Jadeja’s effort but emphasised that the absence of a meaningful partnership alongside him proved costly for India.

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Jadeja’s approach. Referring to Jadeja’s defensive play, Manjrekar said, “Ravindra Jadeja batted well with solid defence, but at no point did it feel like he was taking the kind of risks needed to win the match for India.” Manjrekar made these remarks while speaking on Jio Hotstar.

He added, “Jadeja played a game that was contrary to expectations. In fact, the standout performer in that partnership was Bumrah. He held off England’s high-quality bowling for over an hour and forty minutes. His net session batting practice paid off. The mental strength we see in Bumrah’s bowling was visible in his batting too—it was quite remarkable.”

Manjrekar also criticised Jadeja’s first-innings knock of 70 runs, stating it wasn’t a quick-scoring innings and felt like he batted for 50 hours to get to 50 runs. He alleged that even when Jadeja scored his half-century, the mood in the Indian camp suggested they believed victory was unlikely.

Chasing a target of 192 set by England, India were bowled out for 170. With this win, England took a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series.