In the wake of India’s narrow 22-run defeat to England at Lord’s in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has sparked a vibrant debate about the role and mindset of Ravindra Jadeja, India’s premier all-rounder. Jadeja’s gritty unbeaten 61 off 181 balls showcased his resilience and technical prowess, but Shastri believes there is untapped potential in Jadeja’s batting that could turn close contests decisively in India’s favor.
The match, played about a week ago, saw India in dire straits at 112 for 8, seemingly on the brink of a heavy defeat inside the first session. However, Jadeja, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, mounted a spirited lower-order fightback that pushed India’s total to 172. Jadeja’s partnerships were crucial: 35 runs with Nitish Reddy, 30 with Jasprit Bumrah, and 23 with Siraj. These efforts at one point raised hopes of an improbable Indian victory.
Despite the valiant effort, Jadeja’s innings drew mixed reactions. While his ability to hold the innings together was undeniable, Shastri criticized his overly cautious approach, especially during phases when attacking options were available. Speaking on The Overlap Podcast, Shastri remarked, “I thought the time was before lunch, when Nitish Reddy and Jadeja were batting. One of the two should have gone for it. Because the field was up. The ball was a little harder. Once it got soft, you knew there would be one delivery with your name written on it. At some stage, I thought they could have taken more chances, and brought that deficit down to about 40, and then play the way they did.”
Shastri’s critique centered on Jadeja’s reluctance to attack bowlers like Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root when the field was set aggressively. “He took the safer route, which I think could have been avoided,” Shastri said, urging Jadeja to embrace a more assertive mindset. The former coach drew parallels with England captain Ben Stokes’ legendary 135 not out against Australia at Headingley in 2019, where Stokes single-handedly led a dramatic last-wicket victory by adding 101 runs with the tail. “If Jadeja has even 40 percent of the belief of Stokes, he will win you more matches,” Shastri asserted. “There is no doubt about his talent. It’s just that he has to go and take charge. If he believes he can take charge, he can do it.”
Jadeja’s batting journey, Shastri noted, has been a slow burn. The all-rounder has three triple hundreds in First-Class cricket but took considerable time to realize his batting potential fully. “It took him ages to realize that he has batting potential,” Shastri added, emphasizing that unlocking this confidence could elevate Jadeja’s match-winning capabilities.
Backing up Shastri’s assessment, former Indian batter Suresh Raina praised Jadeja’s consistency and fighting spirit in English conditions, highlighting his remarkable run tally in the ongoing series. “He has scored more runs than Virat Kohli in England,” Raina said in an interview with Sports Tak. “You see the fifties he has scored. Also, he is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket in Tests. He contributes with his fielding, batting, and bowling. He can save the team from any situation. At one stage, it seemed we would lose by 100 runs, but he has that fighting spirit in him.”
Raina also echoed the sentiment that Jadeja could have been more aggressive during his partnership with Jasprit Bumrah in the Lord’s Test. “The defeat at Lord’s was definitely disappointing because it is a big thing to win at such a historical place. I still feel that when Bumrah and Jadeja were batting, we could have taken some risk because Bumrah can bat, and it was just a matter of a few fours and sixes,” Raina said. He suggested that Jadeja could have trusted Bumrah more with strike rotation, saying, “I think during that partnership with Bumrah, Jadeja could have said, ‘You take singles, I trust you.’ We did not have many wickets left, and even Jaddu was thinking that he would try in the last two balls of the over. You were going for dots, but we weren’t looking to draw the Test. Bumrah bats well, we have seen him hit Stuart Broad for sixes in England.”
Jadeja’s form in this series has been exceptional. He has scored 327 runs in three Test matches at an astonishing average of 109, including four consecutive fifties. This remarkable run tally outshines even the likes of former captain Virat Kohli in these challenging English conditions, underlining Jadeja’s growing stature as a world-class all-rounder.
While Jadeja remains the top-ranked all-rounder in Tests, his age—36 years—suggests that his playing days might be limited to the next two to three years. In this context, Shastri has turned his attention to the future, backing 25-year-old Washington Sundar as India’s next genuine all-rounder in Tests. Sundar has impressed during the England tour, particularly in the two Tests played so far, where he has contributed valuable runs and taken key wickets.
Shastri highlighted Sundar’s performance in the home series against New Zealand, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets in four innings. “I always loved Washington. When I saw him on day one, I said he’s the man. And he can be a genuine all-rounder for many, many years for India,” Shastri said on the ICC Review. “He’s just 25 years of age. I think he should have played a lot more Test cricket. Can be lethal in India on tracks where the ball is turning, as New Zealand found out when they played against India. He out-bowled some of the senior spinners.”
Shastri also believes Sundar can fill a crucial batting role higher up the order, similar to what Jadeja has done overseas. “He’s a naturally talented batsman. He’s no number 8. He can go at 6 very soon in the batting lineup. And once he gains confidence, I think he’ll get better and better because even overseas he’s got the drift, he’s got the pace, he’s got the strength in his fingers and the fitness. You know, do both long spells and do the controlling job when needed,” Shastri added.
As the series heads to its fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, starting July 23, all eyes will be on Jadeja and Sundar to see how India’s all-rounder legacy evolves. Jadeja’s battle-hardened experience and Sundar’s youthful promise together paint an intriguing picture of India’s cricketing future.
Jadeja’s recent performances have already etched him as one of the finest all-rounders in the world, but Shastri’s call for more self-belief and attacking intent highlights a critical area that could transform him from a resilient player into a match-winner of the highest order. Meanwhile, Sundar’s rise offers hope that India’s long-standing quest for a genuine all-rounder who can bat in the top six and bowl effectively might soon be fulfilled.
As the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy continues, the evolving narratives around these two players will be pivotal to India’s fortunes, promising thrilling cricket and intense battles ahead.
