- July 17, 2025
Ravindra Jadeja. There’s just something about the name of the dependable all-rounder that transforms him into the perfect middle-order warrior when things look bleak. Most times, he makes his heroic entrance – sword-fighting celebration on the cards, of course, standing like a warrior in the rubble of India’s batting order. And of his latest defiance? A gritty 61 at Lord’s in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, when India’s run chase was already down the toilet, and Jaddu stood like the last keeper of the fort fighting against an all-out siege.
Lord’s, 2025 — A Lone Fighter in London Fog
Let’s kick things off with the latest chapter — the third Test at Lord’s in 2025. On paper, chasing 193 against England seemed like a walk in the park. But cricket, as it loves to remind us, doesn’t play by the script. India’s top and middle order crumbled like a house of cards in a breeze, leaving Jadeja alone with the tail, staring down the barrel of a tricky chase.
What followed was vintage Jadeja – a textbook case of calm and composure, and composed shot selection. Wickets fell around him like dominoes, but Jaddu wasn’t fazed. He was smartly farming the strike and nursing Bumrah and Siraj through the over. His unbeaten 61 off 181 balls was a survivalist knock – it wasn’t flashy and it wasn’t fearless – just as gritty as grains of sand. The support was less than favorable, and India fell short by 22 runs, but Jadeja’s effort was a timely reminder that he is not all Rory Burns as an all-rounder – he is a finisher with a resolute temperament when the situation demands.
Delhi, 2013 — Coming of Age Against Australia
If you go back to the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, you would have begun to see Jadeja’s lower-order heroics beginning to take shape. In the fourth Test in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, India now had to chase down a target of 262 that Australia had posted. In came Jadeja, who put on some important runs with Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ultimately finishing with 43 very important runs against the Australian attack.
It wasn’t an innings for the ages, but it gave India a valuable 10-run buffer – an intangible advantage that would eventually lead to a six-wicket victory. This was still early-career Jadeja, but you could distinctly see the early signs of responsibility with the tail.
Colombo, 2017 — The Silent Enforcer
Cut to 2017 in Colombo against Sri Lanka, and we can see how Jadeja has matured as a player. India was already on their way to scoring 622-9 when Jadeja walked out. But instead of putting his wicket in danger, the left-handed batsman patiently guided Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav to an unbeaten 70.
It wasn’t just a knock for the history books – it was a demonstration that even if the big names were gone, Jadeja could link up with the bowlers. India went on to win by an innings, and Jadeja didn’t just do it with bat – he took 5-152 in the second innings and was named Player of the Match. That performance in Colombo further established his credibility as the man for the job when it comes to the lower order.
Jadeja has quietly built a powerful reputation in regard to managing India’s tail, from Delhi to Colombo to Lord’s 2025. He can situate himself, protect the strike, and eek out the final run of the innings, and this subtlety is an under-valued asset in the arsenal of India’s Tests.
What do you reckon — Jadeja, India’s most reliable tail-end shepherd? Or, is there another candidate waiting to take that title? Let’s talk cricket in the comments!
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