ENG vs IND: Wasim Jaffer Says Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja Frustrated England Just Like Mitchell-Blundell Pair Did In ENG vs NZ Test Series

Former Indian player Wasim Jaffer said Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja on Friday troubled England just like Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell did for New Zealand in the recently concluded Test series.

Pant and Jadeja stitched a 222-run stand for the sixth wicket to revive India’s innings after the tourist reeled at 98/5 in the second session of Day 1 of the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham.

Pant hit 146 in 111 balls, including 20 fours and four sixes, to register the fastest hundred by an Indian wicketkeeper in 89 balls. On the other hand, Jadeja (83*) played the second fiddle to Pant during their record-breaking sixth-wicket stand by an Indian pair in England.

This has become a pattern for England: Wasim Jaffer

During the three-match Test series between England and New Zealand, middle-order batters Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell aggregated their partnership for 724 runs across six innings. It was the most for a pair for the fifth wicket or later in a Test series.

Jaffer feels Pant and Jadeja frustrated England in a similar fashion to the New Zealand duo’s style.

“Yes, this has become a pattern for England since the last three Tests. They are able to pick the first five wickets but Mitchell and Blundell were able to form big partnerships. But the rate at which this partnership happened would have definitely given England a shock,” Jaffer said on ESPNcricinfo.

Ravindra Jadeja has played an almost equally important part as Rishabh Pant: Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer explained how Jadeja’s contribution was equally important for India as Pant’s blistering knock that fetched quick runs for the tourists.

“It’s difficult to say this, but Jadeja has played an almost equally important part as Pant. Someone had to be that anchor to allow Pant to play that way. For the reputation that these two have, it’s important to stress how well they played when they first came in,” Jaffer said.

Jadeja can score his third Test century on the second day to add to his 175* against Sri Lanka this year and 100* against West Indies in 2019.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Sourav Ganguly Lauds Rishabh Pant And Ravindra Jadeja