Ravindra Jadeja Breaks Sir Garfield Sobers 58-Year Record
Ravindra Jadeja broke a long-standing record held by Sir Garfield Sobers, reinforcing why he is regarded as the best all-rounder in modern cricket. On Day 3 of the fifth Test at The Oval, Jadeja scored his sixth 50-plus score in the series and with that, he surpassed Sir Garfield Sobers’ 1966 record of five such scores in England by a batter batting at No.6 or lower.
He also crossed 1,000 career runs in England and became only the second visiting player after Sobers to pair it with 30-plus wickets. Ravindra Jadeja now has 516 runs in the series—more than even top-order batters like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. With this, India posted a strong 396 in the second innings, setting England a target of 374. India now needs just eight wickets to level the series.
Ravindra Jadeja played a crucial knock of 53 off 77 balls, with five boundaries, in India’s second innings. This was his sixth 50-plus score of the series, the most ever by a batter at No.6 or lower in England. The previous record—five such scores—was set by Sir Garfield Sobers in 1966.
This performance places Jadeja in an elite club. He is now the only other visiting cricketer apart from Sobers to score more than 1,000 runs and take 30-plus wickets in Test matches in England.
ALSO READ: BCCI Accused of Chasing 'Cursed Money', Faces Backlash Over India-Pakistan Asia Cup Clash
Jadeja now has 516 runs in this Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, with an average of 86. He joins Shubman Gill (754) and KL Rahul (532) as the only Indian batters to cross the 500-run mark this series. His performance includes one century and five fifties.
Despite batting lower down the order, he has outscored key names like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Currently, he stands as the third-highest run-scorer for India in the series.
India ended Day 3 with control over the Test. Jaiswal struck a brilliant 118 off 164—his second century of the series. Akash Deep hit a gritty 66 off 94, notching his maiden Test fifty. Washington Sundar added quick runs at the end with a 53 off just 46 balls, including four sixes.
India’s second innings total of 396 has left England chasing a massive 374 to win. With the series at 2-1 in England’s favour, this chase would require a record effort. India, meanwhile, needs just eight wickets to draw level.
Ravindra Jadeja's accomplishment is not just quantifiable. In circumstances that have historically been difficult for Indian all-rounders, he has established a legacy. He has adapted and developed into a dominant player, as evidenced by his performance in England, where bounce, swing, and seaming conditions frequently negate spin and lower-order batting.
In England, very few Indian cricket players, particularly spinners, have consistently shown themselves at bat and ball. Jadeja has managed to do both in a single tour, a rare feat. His all-round brilliance now mirrors the kind of dominance Kapil Dev showed in the 1980s. In today’s era, Jadeja’s utility as a match-winner in foreign conditions is unmatched.
ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2025: India vs Pakistan Clash Set for Dubai on September 14
With a 374-run target in place, India heads into Day 4 eyeing a series-levelling win. England’s task is monumental. India’s bowlers—led by a fired-up attack—have eight wickets to claim.
If Ravindra Jadeja's record-breaking performance leads to a win, it could go down as one of India’s finest fightbacks on English soil.
