In a rare deviation from the BCCI’s standard operating procedures (SoPs), Ravindra Jadeja arrived early at the ground on day two of the second Test against England in Birmingham.
As per the BCCI’s post-Australia tour guidelines, no player is permitted to travel alone to or from the venue, with all movement mandated to be on the team bus. However, Jadeja breached this protocol with good reason to squeeze in a crucial batting session before play resumed.
Why Jadeja Took the Risk
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India had experienced a twin collapse of batting during the Leeds Test. India was on 211 for 5 on a pitch friendly to batting, with Jadeja continuing his innings on 41, intent on guiding the team towards a solid total. “Somewhere I thought I should go and bat extra because the ball was still new,” Ravindra Jadeja said. “If I could have lasted that phase, the innings would have become easier.”
Massive Partnership with Shubman Gill
Jadeja’s plan worked. He joined Shubman Gill in stitching a match-winning 203-run partnership that took India over the 500-run barrier. Even though he got run out for a quick 89 on a sharp bouncer from Josh Tongue, short of a hundred, his effort proved critical.
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Jadeja explained, “When you contribute to the team with the bat abroad, it provides you with great satisfaction. Taking it from 210 for 5, creating a long association in pressure situations is not easy. I took up that challenge.”
England Captain Ben Stokes Left Frustrated
In the innings, Ravindra Jadeja also had a run-in with England skipper Ben Stokes. One who likes to play forward and come down the track after playing a shot, Jadeja was repeatedly accused by Stokes of entering the danger area a vulnerable region of the pitch. The Indian all-rounder rejected the charges: “The fast bowlers were already making rough. I did not intend to do that. If that did happen, it was by mistake.”
Discipline with the Ball Will Be Key
With India snapping three wickets in a flash in the darkness, Jadeja admitted that even though the pitch is flat, it has something to give with relentless discipline. “Bowling here means being patient and being accurate. The ball is not doing much, so our attention is on energy and being attacking fields,” he replied. He insisted India is not concerned with the outcome yet, but just playing the match session by session.
Although Ravindra Jadeja might have violated BCCI travel guidelines, his commitment to work and his gargantuan contribution with the bat more than justify the technical infraction. His being early ensured to stabilize a crucial stage of the match, reiterating his worth as one of India’s most dependable all-rounders, particularly abroad.
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