Former Australia captain Greg Chappell reckoned that the Indian management should have sent a clear message to veteran Ravindra Jadeja to go for the win in the third Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at Lord's Stadium in London.
Jadeja, along with tail-enders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, batted their hearts out, but fell marginally short in pursuit of a seemingly paltry 193-run target on the final day of the third Test at Lord's.
Jadeja batted for 22 overs with Jasprit Bumrah on the field and added 35 runs. He spent the next 13.2 overs with Siraj before the latter's unfortunate dismissal, forcing India to surrender to a 22-run defeat. After India's batting collapse, Jadeja shielded the tail-enders but refused to take a gamble for boundaries.
"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 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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Gill, who is currently the highest run-getter in the five-Test match series against England, arrived at Lord's with three centuries, turned one of them into his career best 269 and 458 runs from two Tests. However, he failed to replicate his past success, returning with scores of 16 and 6. England are currently leading 2-1 in the five-Test match series.
The fourth Test match of the ongoing series will take place from 23 to 27 July at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.