Ravindra Jadeja identified as villain in India’s Lord's Test defeat by batting legend
Published - 15 Jul 2025, 05:20 PM | Updated - 16 Jul 2025, 12:02 AM
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India’s narrow 22-run loss to England in the third Test at Lord’s has raised eyebrows, and Sunil Gavaskar expressed concern over the team’s inability to build strong partnerships, especially slamming Ravindra Jadeja. The former Indian captain was critical of Ravindra Jadeja’s slow innings.
The legendary batter believes that a steady partnership of 60-70 runs could have changed the course of the match, but India failed to deliver when it mattered the most, and England took the opportunity to take a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match Test series.
Sunil Gavaskar slams Ravindra Jadeja’s defensive knock After India’s defeat at Lord’s
It was Ravindra Jadeja’s slow innings that left Gavaskar furious. The Indian all-rounder tried his best to pull off a miracle after an early collapse on Day 5 triggered by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. He remained unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls—his slowest Test fifty—but he had no support from the other end, and the touring side was eventually bowled out for 170 while chasing 193 runs at Lord’s.
Jadeja’s ultra-defensive approach sparked debate, with Sunil Gavaskar questioning if he could have taken more calculated risks earlier in the innings; especially against spinners, the result could have been different in the third Test against England at Lord’s.
Sunil Gavaskar said on Sony Sports, “A partnership of 60-70 would have made a difference. India never got that. You could say that Jadeja could have taken the odd chance and not necessarily the aerial route when Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir were bowling. But full marks to him (Jadeja).”
Ravindra Jadeja could have taken a chance against Shoaib Bashir: Sunil Gavaskar
Later, speaking to Sports Tak, Gavaskar pointed out that Ravindra Jadeja missed chances to score during India's tense run chase at Lord’s. He felt Jadeja could have gone for a boundary or a big shot when Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root were bowling to put pressure back on England.
Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Sports Tak: “I thought when Bashir came to bowl, Jadeja could have taken a chance. The second time was when Bumrah was batting with him, because Stokes was fielding inside the circle at mid-off. So, he could have scored a boundary there, especially when Joe Root was bowling. Later, when Siraj came to bat, Stokes stationed himself near the boundary rope.”
Read Also: James Anderson officially joins the team ahead of India vs England Manchester Test
Ravindra Jadeja scripts history at Lord’s
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja scripts history at Lord’s, becoming only the second Indian batter to score 50+ in both innings of a Test at the iconic venue in London. He scored 72 in the first innings and an unbeaten 61 in the second at Lord’s. Before Jadeja, Vinoo Mankad had made history in 1952.
India’s heartbreaking loss to England at Lord’s in the third Test by just 22 runs has joined the list of their narrowest defeats by runs in Test history. Their closest defeat came in 1999, when Pakistan thrashed India by just 12 runs in Chennai. In 1977, Australia crushed India by 16 runs in Brisbane.
Then, Pakistan defeated India by 16 runs again in 1987 at Bengaluru. More recently, India fell short by 25 runs against New Zealand at Wankhede in 2024. The Lord’s defeat now stands as the fourth narrowest in Indian Test history.
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