Sanjay Manjrekar has come down hard on senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja following India’s defeat in the first Test at Headingley.
Despite being the most experienced spinner in the side, Jadeja failed to make an impact with the ball when the team needed him the most.
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Manjrekar, while speaking after the match, openly questioned Jadeja’s tactics and effort, especially on a Day 5 pitch that had plenty on offer for spinners.
India lost the opening Test by five wickets, and while several areas went wrong, Jadeja’s quiet outing has drawn sharp criticism from experts.
Why did Sanjay Manjrekar question Ravindra Jadeja’s performance?
Manjrekar, speaking on a post-match panel, didn’t shy away from expressing his disappointment. He pointed out that while young bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Siraj are still learning, someone like Jadeja, with years of experience, should’ve used the conditions better.
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According to him, the final day surface had clear signs of wear and tear, with rough patches that could have troubled the England batters, if Jadeja had bowled with more intent.
"I'm going to be critical of Jadeja because this is a final-day pitch. There was rough for him to play with, and in the end, I know there were a couple of chances there, but we have to expect more from Jadeja," the former India batter said.
Jadeja, who bowled 47 overs across both innings, ended up with just one wicket and conceded over 170 runs and that reflects how off-colour he was throughout the match.
India were relying on their lone spinner to make a difference in the fourth innings, especially with the pitch starting to show signs of turn.
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Jasprit Bumrah, once again, led the attack with fire and precision. Other pacers chipped in with wickets, though inconsistently. But the lack of pressure from the spin end meant that England never truly looked in trouble while chasing 371.