On Day 5 of the first Test match at Headingley, Leeds, Varun Aaron had questioned Ravindra Jadeja‘s bowling performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, after scoring an undefeated 41 on Day 1 of the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Wednesday, July 2, the Saurashtra all-rounder received high acclaim from the former India pacer.
Jadeja’s proactive body language struck Aaron, who observed that the 36-year-old was displaying positive purpose and looking to rotate strike. The former cricket player and current broadcaster praised Jadeja’s aggressive strategy against Shoaib Bashir, an off-spinner for England.
“Jadeja body language struck me as excellent.
He wanted to demonstrate intent, rotate his strike, and remain fluid at the crease from the first ball. Aaron stated on JioHotstar, “He wasn’t just trying to grind it out ball after ball — he was actively looking to make things happen.”
His approach to Bashir was particularly noteworthy. He would normally play him carefully, but today he took calculated chances, and that was what counted. He ensured that the scoreboard continued to move. India was scoring nearly four runs per over by the last session, which is precisely where you want to be. When leading the lower order as Ravindra Jadeja, you want to be strong but also aggressive,” he continued.
When India was in trouble, having lost five wickets with 211 runs scored, Jadeja joined captain Shubman Gill. The tourists needed a solid partnership to turn around the ship after losing two wickets in a row. By combining caution and aggression, Jadeja and Gill stitched an undefeated 99-run partnership off 142 balls, using their expertise to help India out of their bind.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India ended Day 1 with 310/5 in 85 overs. Jadeja was still undefeated at 41, and Gill (114*) was not far behind. In the first innings, the visitors will try to score at least 450 runs or more.
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