Ravindra Jadeja stood firm till the end on Day 5 at Lord’s, even as India fell 22 runs short in a tense Test match against England. While Mohammed Siraj dropped to his knees in despair after getting bowled, Jadeja quietly took off his gloves at the non-striker’s end. His reaction was calm, but the pain was clear—he had carried India’s hopes almost single-handedly, batting with incredible patience, grit, and control alongside the tailenders.
Jadeja remained unbeaten with a gritty 61 off 181 deliveries. He batted for nearly three hours, building partnerships with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Despite his efforts, India were all out for 170 in 74.5 overs, chasing 193.
Some viewers felt Jadeja should have played more aggressively once Bumrah got out. But the seasoned all-rounder chose to stay calm and stuck to his method, knowing the match was still on the line. The unlucky dismissal of Siraj—bowled when the ball rolled back onto his stumps—left many wondering how different the result could have been.
However, there was no criticism of Jadeja in the Indian camp. In fact, head coach Gautam Gambhir showered praise on the left-hander in the dressing room. In a behind-the-scenes video posted by the BCCI titled “The MVP ft. Ravindra Jadeja,” Gambhir called his knock an extraordinary effort. “That was an incredible fight. The fight from Jaddu was absolutely brilliant,” said Gambhir in his emotional address.
India’s chase had started with promise but soon turned into a collapse. The team lost eight wickets within the first 40 overs. Coming in at No. 7, Jadeja took charge and stitched valuable partnerships with Bumrah and Siraj. Together, they batted for more than 34 overs, bringing India close to a memorable win. But with Siraj’s dismissal, the innings ended and with it, India’s hopes.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who has known Jadeja since their early days with Saurashtra, highlighted the all-rounder’s mental toughness. “I always felt he has the ability to take pressure. With so much of experience, he normally comes with something that the team needs in any challenging conditions. Really, really valuable to the team,” Kotak said.
With this defeat, India now trail 1-2 in the five-match Test series. The fourth Test will be played in Manchester starting July 23, where India must win to stay alive in the series.
