With India already on the back foot at the end of Day 4 in the third Test against England at Lord’s, their situation worsened early on the final day. England pacer Jofra Archer struck in his second over, removing the dangerous Rishabh Pant with a peach of a delivery. That left India needing another 122 runs with only five wickets in hand as Ravindra Jadeja walked into the middle under immense pressure.
Trying to anchor the innings and guide India out of trouble, Jadeja faced a challenging spell from the English bowlers. In the 22nd over, Ben Stokes bowled a sharp bouncer which Jadeja wisely left alone. But even as the ball safely passed to the wicketkeeper, Stokes and the English slip cordon didn’t waste time in getting under Jadeja’s skin.
What followed was a barrage of sledging from the England fielders, particularly Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root, who crowded around Jadeja in an attempt to rattle him. The stump mic picked up remarks aimed at undermining Jadeja’s confidence. “He shouldn’t even be in this Indian side,” one said. Another taunted, “How will he play this ball?” Their attempts continued with more jabs: “He is surely not going to play that.”
Despite the noise around him, Jadeja stayed composed. One of India’s most reliable all-rounders, he had already proven his worth in the series with three half-centuries in five innings. Known for his cool temperament and focus, Jadeja didn’t respond to the chatter, instead keeping his eyes on the ball and concentrating on rebuilding the innings.
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Cricket fans, however, were not amused. Social media platforms were abuzz with criticism of the English players’ conduct, with many fans expressing disappointment over the personal nature of the sledging. While verbal duels are common in Test cricket, the tone used against a player of Jadeja’s stature didn’t sit well with viewers, who praised the Indian star for maintaining his composure and staying locked in on the task.