ENG vs IND 2025: Jadeja gives witty reply on Test captaincy hopes

Since 2009, Ravindra Jadeja has participated in international cricket matches. He is presently participating in his 82nd Test match and has played in 204 ODIs and 74 T20Is. Former captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the red-ball game, and India named Shubman Gill as their new captain in the format ahead of the current five-match Test series against England. Rishabh Pant was appointed Gill’s deputy in the meantime.

It’s interesting to note that Jadeja, one of the most seasoned players on the Indian Test team—especially following the retirements of Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, and Rohit—was not given consideration for the captaincy position. The Saurashtra all-rounder, however, isn’t worried about being captain; instead, he wants to help India succeed in the field, with the bat, and with the ball.

India was in trouble in the second Test match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston, Birmingham, after losing five wickets for 211 runs on Day 1. Gill and Jadeja, however, contributed 203 runs off just 279 for the sixth wicket when Jadeja joined Gill.

Jadeja, 36, was questioned about if he ever considered becoming the captain of the Indian Test team throughout his storied career after play concluded on Day 2. Following the conclusion of the play on the second day, the seasoned veteran grinned and said to reporters, “No, that time is gone now.”

Gill proceeded to a record-breaking 269 off 387 balls, while Jadeja was removed following an outstanding 89-run knock off 137 deliveries. On the strength of these knocks, India scored an incredible 587 in the first innings.

Jadeja praised Gill profusely and claimed that when he is batting, the 25-year-old does not have to worry about being captain. “I felt Gill wouldn’t get out the way he was batting,” the former said.

“To be honest, he exudes confidence. When batting, he doesn’t appear to be a captain. An additional obligation has been placed on him. Everything he owns is with him. That is not how I feel about his batting at all. Unfortunately, the ball still ended up in his (the fielder’s) hand today. However, I didn’t think he would be out in this inning today. He did a great job playing. We discussed collaboration when we were batting together. that we will continue to communicate with one another and have a long-term cooperation,” Jadeja stated.

We need to take two or three wickets before tomorrow’s lunch break. Jadeja

Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were both removed by Akash Deep in the same over after India was all out for 587, costing England two fast wickets. England fell to 25/3 as Mohammed Siraj defeated Zak Crawley. Together, Joe Root and Harry Brook helped salvage the innings with an undefeated 52-run partnership, as England ended the second day at Stumps with 77/3.

The Indian team, according to Jadeja, isn’t planning too far ahead and will concentrate on taking two or three wickets in the opening session on Day 3. Additionally, he praised the vigour with which India performed on Thursday, June 3.

“We’re not planning too far in advance. We need to take two or three wickets before tomorrow’s lunch break. We will undoubtedly win the game if we take that action. Any outcome is possible. In cricket, there have been significant collaborations in the past. We’re not going to play the game lightly. Today, we played with energy. “Hopefully, the outcome will be favourable to India,” Jadeja stated.