England edged past India in a heart-stopping finish at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s, as they won by 22 runs in one of the most captivating final days in recent Test history. Among the post-match voices, Sanjay Manjrekar stood out as he launched a scathing attack on Ravindra Jadeja’s approach in the fourth innings.
Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 off 181 balls (4 fours and a six). Speaking to JioHotstar, the former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar acknowledged Jadeja’s composure but questioned whether he did enough to push for a win.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticises Ravindra Jadeja after India lose the Lord’s Test
“Ravindra Jadeja was batting well and defending resolutely, but it never looked like he was taking the kind of risks needed to help India win. He was playing a waiting game and hoping against hope,” Sanjay Manjrekar echoed his thoughts.
Jadeja, who had played a vital role in the first innings, once again held firm amid a crumbling top order. But with India slipping to 112 for 8 early in the day, hopes of a miraculous chase seemed distant. Yet the fight wasn’t over. Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah stitched together a defiant stand. The duo frustrated the English bowlers and dragged the game into nerve-wracking territory, but that didn’t last long.
The pitch had eased slightly, the ball had gone soft, and England’s pacers were visibly tired. Jadeja showed grit, but it was Bumrah’s resilience that took many by surprise and earned special praise from Sanjay Manjrekar.
“The real star in that partnership, though, was Jasprit Bumrah,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.
“He stayed out there for one hour and 40 minutes against high-quality fast bowling, facing bouncers, and it was remarkable to see how his net sessions with the bat finally paid off. The mental toughness we see in his bowling came through in his batting too, and that was truly special.”
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England, though, refused to go away. After Bumrah’s gritty 28 ended, Siraj managed to hang around for a while, giving hope to a win that would have been remembered for ages. But once Siraj turned around to see his stumps shattered, the silence said it all. He sank to his knees, frozen. It wasn’t just the end of an inning; it was the collapse of a dream so nearly realized.
India’s tail had added 58 for the last two wickets, fighting till the very end, but it wasn’t enough. England’s persistence, even when it seemed like the game was slipping away, ultimately saw them through.
As players from both sides gave it everything in the searing heat, it was England’s offspinner, Shoaib Bashir, brought back into the attack despite a bruised little finger, who landed the final blow.
With that, the curtains came down on an absorbing contest, leaving Mohammed Siraj heartbroken and India reflecting on what might have been a win.
Manjrekar’s remarks will likely divide opinions, especially among those who value Jadeja’s consistency and calm under pressure. But his larger point is hard to ignore: the game was within touching distance, and perhaps a few more proactive decisions could’ve tilted the result the other way.
India, meanwhile, will take pride in the grit and determination they displayed. But as the dust settles, questions about approach and intent, especially on the final day, will remain. As things stand, England have taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Test series. There are two more games to be played on July 23 and 31 at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, and Kennington Oval, London, respectively.
It is really going to be a daunting task for India to stage a comeback, and it won’t be easy in the opposition’s territory, especially after their gut-wrenching loss at Lord’s. It will be quite interesting to see how the visitors respond in the upcoming Test match, which is just a week away from getting underway.
