India’s narrow defeat at Lord’s in the third Test sparked plenty of reactions, and Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty unbeaten 61 became the focal point of post-match discussions.
While his effort kept India alive till the final session on Day 5, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar raised some interesting points about Jadeja’s intent and possibly hinted at how his IPL franchise’s mindset may have influenced his approach.
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Did Sunil Gavaskar aim a dig at CSK?
Sunil Gavaskar, while appreciating Jadeja’s composure in a tense situation, also pointed out that playing safe for too long may have cost India the match
Speaking to Sports Today, Gavaskar noted that Jadeja’s cautious knock could have been shaped by his habit of batting with lower-order partners and his experience with a team that’s known for dragging matches deep.
"I think it was dictated by the fact that he was batting with the lower-order batters, who are not known for their batting abilities. So, you look to farm the strike as much as possible rather than focusing on strike rate," he said.
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"In that case, you're also a bit worried about taking risks, like going for aerial shots. And don't forget, he plays for a franchise that believes in taking the game deep. That’s what they usually do. So maybe that approach didn’t quite work out here, but that's what you try to do- take the game as close to England’s total as possible," he added.
Though Gavaskar didn’t name Chennai Super Kings directly, fans and analysts quickly picked up on the reference to his franchise in the Indian Premier League, knowing CSK’s reputation for favouring late finishes in T20 games.
Was Jadeja too defensive during the chase against England?
India were chasing a modest 193 in the fourth innings but collapsed to 112 for 8 by lunch on Day 5. Jadeja, coming in at 71 for 5, decided to protect the tail by keeping strike and limiting risky shots. Throughout his 181-ball innings, he struck only four boundaries and a single six.
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While many lauded Jadeja’s calmness under pressure, some felt he could’ve taken calculated risks earlier, especially as wickets kept falling around him.
Jadeja’s partnerships with Bumrah and Siraj stretched the game till the final session, but once Shoaib Bashir bowled Siraj, it was heartbreak for India. They lost by 22 runs and now trail the five-match series 2-1, with the next Test scheduled at Old Trafford from July 23 to 27.