Ravindra Jadeja: Warrior or the Villain in India's heartbreak at the Lord's?

Ravindra Jadeja showcased immense grit and resilience during India’s tense run chase of 193 against England in the third Test at Lord’s. On a dramatic Day 5, the match tilted sharply in England’s favour as India slumped to 82 for 7, with the top and middle order collapsing under relentless pace from Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Brydon Carse. The English quicks unleashed hostile spells that dismantled India’s batting lineup across two sessions—Sunday evening and Monday morning—leaving the visitors in deep trouble.

However, just as England looked poised to seal the match before lunch and celebrate an emphatic win at the iconic venue, Jadeja had other ideas. With calm determination and steely nerves, the seasoned all-rounder stood firm against the odds. Displaying his trademark composure, he weathered the storm, frustrating the hosts and reviving India’s hopes. His strokeplay was measured, his defence solid, and his mindset unshakable.

Even as wickets kept falling around him, Jadeja battled on, absorbing pressure and narrowing the gap between victory and defeat. His effort wasn’t just a fight for runs—it was a statement of character. At a time when India needed a hero, Jadeja stood tall, keeping the chase alive and the contest wide open.

What initially seemed like a straightforward defeat for India turned into a gripping finale, thanks to a courageous lower-order resistance led by Ravindra Jadeja and the unlikely duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. After a disastrous collapse on the evening of Day 4, where key batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Shubman Gill gifted their wickets away and left India teetering at 58 for 4, the final day saw a remarkable show of defiance. Bumrah and Siraj stepped up with the bat, holding firm for 84 deliveries between them and offering crucial support to Jadeja.

The last two partnerships stretched for 212 balls, forcing England to toil deep into the third session. Jadeja, anchoring the innings with poise and patience, remained unbeaten on 61 from 181 balls. Alongside Bumrah and Siraj, he helped add 58 runs for the final two wickets. However, despite their gallant stand, India fell short by 22 runs, unable to erase the damage done earlier.

Jadeja played a mature knock, tactfully shielding the tail and refusing to give England a sniff. He hit a six off Chris Woakes in the 48th over but then chose restraint, going 107 balls without a boundary and playing England’s spinners with calculated caution.

Former India captain Anil Kumble opined that Ravindra Jadeja could have taken a few more calculated risks in the latter stages of India’s chase at Lord’s. While praising Jadeja’s grit and determination, Kumble felt that the all-rounder may have missed an opportunity to push the game further towards India’s favour. With England relying heavily on Chris Woakes and their spinners during the final phase, Kumble suggested that Jadeja had an opening to rotate the strike more freely or target the weaker bowlers selectively. He added that while Jadeja’s cautious approach helped extend the innings, a bit more aggression—especially against Woakes and the spinners—might have brought India significantly closer to the 193-run target and even sparked a miraculous win.

“The two bowlers he could have potentially taken on were Chris Woakes, who is slightly slower in the air, and then Bashir and Joe Root. I know they’re off-spinners taking the ball away, but it wasn’t turning square. So there wasn’t a lot to worry about in terms of spin or the outside edge. Jadeja has played on tougher pitches and against better bowling. I thought he could have taken a chance.

“You want to take those risks. Yes, there were a few runs he rightly declined because Bumrah and Siraj were at the other end, but he could have chanced it a bit more,” stated former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble. 

“I think it was dictated by the fact that he was batting with the lower-order batters. He was trying to farm the strike as much as possible. Also, at that stage, you’re wary of playing aerial shots on that kind of pitch. And the Indian team tends to take the game deep — that’s what he was aiming for,” said former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar.