Cheteshwar Pujara has come out in strong support of Ravindra Jadeja’s courageous 61-run innings at Lord’s, urging cricket fans to celebrate his resilience rather than criticize his scoring rate.
Jadeja’s Gritty Stand at Lord’s
Ravindra Jadeja’s 61 runs off 181 balls in the recent Test against England at Lord’s became a talking point. India’s top order had collapsed, leaving Jadeja with the monumental task of batting alongside the tailenders.
While some pundits and former cricketers, including Herschelle Gibbs and Sanjay Manjrekar, questioned his slow scoring and intent, Pujara offers a different perspective.
Pujara Defends the All-Rounder
Pujara believes criticism of Jadeja’s pace is misplaced. He points out that the ball was soft and the pitch played slowly, making quick scoring incredibly difficult. Jadeja, he suggests, was strategic, waiting for India to get closer to the target before attempting to accelerate.
He also dismisses the idea that tailenders like Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj couldn’t have lasted longer. In fact, Jadeja had already started taking risks just before Siraj’s dismissal, hitting boundaries over the slips and to backward square-leg.
Pujara did offer one small suggestion: Jadeja could have looked to score more down the ground, aiming for gaps between mid-off and cover. However, the overall challenge of batting with the last few wickets, especially with a target looming, created immense pressure on Jadeja.
A History of Batting Together
This isn’t the first time Pujara and Jadeja have shared a significant partnership. A scorecard from a 2008 Ranji Trophy game between Saurashtra and Orissa shows Pujara (302) and Jadeja (232) sharing a record 520-run fifth-wicket stand. That record still stands today.
It’s a testament to Jadeja’s batting ability from a young age. While Pujara was in the commentary box and Sitanshu Kotak (another player from that Ranji game) was in the Indian dressing room as batting coach at Lord’s, Jadeja was out in the middle, displaying the same patience and courage.
Jadeja’s Evolved Batting
Pujara, who has seen Jadeja since their under-14 days, highlights the significant improvement in Jadeja’s batting, particularly in overseas conditions. In the last five years, his Test batting average stands at an impressive 46. On the current tour, he averages over 100 with three not-outs.
This progress, according to Pujara, is a result of consistent hard work. Jadeja is known to practice in the nets even on match days. He has also notably strengthened his game against seam bowling, which was once a slight area of concern.
Mastering Pitch and Ball
Pujara also points to Jadeja’s refined technique. He plays the ball close to his body, allowing it to come to him. This helps him read the ball’s trajectory accurately, even when it appears to have beaten his bat. He lets the ball come under his eyes, demonstrating control.
Ben Stokes, the England captain, smartly set deep fielders to prevent easy boundaries, but not always on the boundary line, making it hard to convert singles into twos. Jadeja’s disciplined approach was crucial in such scenarios.
- Ravindra Jadeja’s 61-run innings at Lord’s showcased courage and patience on a challenging pitch.
- Cheteshwar Pujara firmly defended Jadeja, citing difficult playing conditions and a tactical approach.
- Jadeja’s batting has significantly improved over the years, especially his ability to play pace and perform overseas.
Jadeja’s performance at Lord’s underscores his transformation into a truly invaluable all-rounder, a player who has consistently worked on his game to meet the demands of international cricket.
