Ravindra Jadeja might have ended on the losing side at Lord's but his unbeaten 61 left a lasting impression - especially on former England captain Jos Buttler.
As India collapsed to 112 for 8 while chasing 193, Jadeja dug in, refused to give up, and nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback alongside tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
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While England eventually sealed a tense 22-run win to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series, Buttler admitted that Jadeja's effort made him sit up and take notice.
Jos Buttler praises Ravindra Jadeja's trust in Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Buttler said what stood out was not just the runs but the conviction behind Jadeja's approach when partnered with India's No. 10 and 11.
Buttler praised the Indian allrounder for clearly communicating the plan with Bumrah and Siraj. He gave them a defined role and treated them as equal partners in the chase.
That trust inspired both tailenders to dig in and believe in the possibility of an unlikely win.
"The amount of faith he showed in numbers 10 and 11 did wonders for them. When you give someone trust and say, 'We can do this together,' you do it as a partnership," said Buttler.
Jadeja and Bumrah made a 35-run partnership over 22 tense overs. When Bumrah got dismissed, Siraj stepped in and the pair kept England sweating post-tea.
Eventually, Shoaib Bashir broke through to end Siraj's defence but not before Jadeja had dragged the contest to the brink.
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Buttler also highlighted Jadeja's clarity in approach. He said that Jadeja didn't just bat for himself but brought the lower order into the equation with a strong sense of belief.
"Whether he got it right or wrong isn't the point. It's the conviction in his plan that stood out - the belief that this was how they'd win the game," he added.
India may have lost the Test but Jadeja's knock gave them a fighting chance. And as Buttler's praise shows, sometimes, the way a game is played matters as much as the final score.
When is the 4th Test between India and England?
The 4th Test between India and England will start on Wednesday, July 23 and is scheduled to end on Sunday, July 27.
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Where is the 4th Test between India and England?
The fourth Test between India and England will be played at Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Ground.