Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has garnered immense praise from the team’s coaching staff and captain for his courageous half-century at Lord’s, even though India ultimately fell short in their chase.
Jadeja’s Gritty Stand at Lord’s
Ravindra Jadeja delivered a remarkable performance, scoring an unbeaten 61 runs, which brought India tantalizingly close to England’s 193-run target. The visitors’ batting line-up had faltered, leaving Jadeja to anchor the innings from a precarious position at No. 7.
He found some support from tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who bravely occupied the crease. Despite their efforts, India was bowled out for 170, falling 22 runs short and going down 1-2 in the series.
Unanimous Praise from Coaching Staff and Captain
Head coach Gautam Gambhir led the praise for Jadeja. In a video titled ‘The MVP ft. Ravindra Jadeja’ on the BCCI website, Gambhir stated, “That was an incredible fight. The fight from Jaddu was absolutely brilliant.”
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate highlighted Jadeja’s significant growth as a batter. “His batting has reached another level. In the last two Tests, the consistency and the calmness he brought to the dressing room… his defence is rock solid, looks like a proper batter,” he commented.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also lauded Jadeja’s composure. “I always felt he has the ability to take pressure. With so much of experience, he normally comes with something that the team needs in any challenging conditions. Really, really valuable to the team,” Kotak added.
A Rare and Valuable Asset
Team India’s skipper, Shubman Gill, echoed the sentiments, emphasizing Jadeja’s multifaceted contributions. “He is one of the most valuable players of India. The skillset he brings with his batting, bowling and fielding. He is someone who is very rare to find,” Gill remarked.
Gill expressed immense pride in Jadeja’s character and courage shown during the high-pressure chase. Mohammed Siraj, another key player, simply stated, “It’s very difficult to get a player like me and we are lucky to have such a player in our team,” underscoring Jadeja’s unique value to the squad.
Key Takeaways
- Ravindra Jadeja scored an unbeaten 61 runs in a valiant effort during India’s chase at Lord’s.
- Head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed his performance as an “absolutely brilliant fight.”
- Coaches and teammates universally praised Jadeja’s development as a batter, his composure under pressure, and his all-round skills.
- Skipper Shubman Gill highlighted Jadeja as “one of the most valuable players of India” due to his rare combination of batting, bowling, and fielding prowess.
Looking ahead, India faces a must-win situation in the fourth Test, beginning in Manchester on July 23, to keep their hopes alive in the series.
