Ex-India Coach Questions Jadeja’s Intent At Lord’s: 'Disciplined Knock But Was It...'

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Ex-India Coach Questions Jadeja’s Intent At Lord’s: 'Disciplined Knock But Was It...'

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Last Updated: July 19, 2025, 13:51 IST

Former India head coach Greg Chappell has questioned whether Ravindra Jadeja’s gritty knock of 61 not out off 181 balls was the ideal approach.

Jadeja scored an unbeaten 61 off 181 at Lord's in the second innings [AP Photo]

The recently concluded Lord’s Test will go down as one of the epic battles at the home of cricket. India were chasing 194, but England’s attack made it an uphill task. The batting line-up fell and scattered like a house of cards while Ravindra Jadeja stood tall. England may have won the game by 22 runs and went ahead 2-1 in the series, but the cricketing world bowed down to Jadeja for his unbeaten 61 off 181 deliveries.

However, a few experts of the game have also questioned the Indian all-rounder’s approach with the bat. Former India head coach Greg Chappell, in his latest column for ESPN Cricinfo, opined that Jadeja had to take calculated risks instead of just defending and shielding the tail.

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“The Lord’s Test also provided a telling moment with the way Jadeja was managed late in the match. Left with the tail, Jadeja did what many specialist batters do in that situation: he shielded the tail, farmed the strike, and played conservatively. On the surface, it was a disciplined innings. But was it the right one?" Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

“The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn’t to leave balls and collect singles – it was to win the match. That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain."

“He needed to be told directly: ‘You are the man who has to get this done. The tail’s job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win’," he added.

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Jadeja stitched vital stands of 35 (off 132 balls) and 23 (off 80) with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but Chappell drew a comparison to how England captain Ben Stokes tackled a similar scenario at Headingley in 2019.

“We saw exactly that from England’s Ben Stokes against Australia in Leeds in 2019. In a similar situation, he backed himself and produced one of the best innings of the past 50 years. Importantly, Stokes played that innings knowing that, succeed or fail, his team and leadership would have his back. That’s the mindset that needs to be fostered in any great team," Chappell concluded.

About the Author Aakash Biswas A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ... Read More A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ... Read More

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First Published: July 19, 2025, 13:51 IST

News cricket Ex-India Coach Questions Jadeja’s Intent At Lord’s: 'Disciplined Knock But Was It...'

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