Sunil Gavaskar slams India batsmen after Lord's Test defeat; feels Ravindra Jadeja should've played better

Divy Dubey

Sunil Gavaskar slams India batsmen after Lord's Test defeat; feels Ravindra Jadeja should've played better image

(getty)

India's narrow 22-run loss to England in the third Test at Lord's has triggered sharp criticism from former cricketers.

Sunil Gavaskar has voiced strong disappointment over how the team let the game slip away on Day 5 of the Test match.

Chasing 193, India were bowled out for 170 after a fightback from Ravindra Jadeja and the lower order. What was shaping up to be a straightforward chase on the final day quickly turned into a collapse.

India lost four wickets in the morning session. Despite a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 61 off 181 balls, the team fell short due to a lack of support at the other end.

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KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, and Nitish Kumar Reddy were all dismissed before lunch. This left Jadeja to battle alongside the tail-enders.

Sunil Gavaskar questions India's batting at Lord's

Speaking on Sony Sports after the match, Sunil Gavaskar pointed out India's failure to build partnerships as the turning point in the chase.

He singled out Jadeja's overly cautious approach against spinners Shoaib Bashir and Joe Root as an area of concern following the 22-run defeat.

"A partnership of 60-70 would have made a difference. India never got that. You could say that Jadeja could have taken the odd chance and not necessarily the aerial route when Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir was bowling. But full marks to him (Jadeja)," Gavaskar said.

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Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 - his slowest Test fifty. Questions were raised about whether he should have taken a few more risks.

England's win was set up by Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes, who shared six wickets between them. Archer dismissed Pant and Sundar while Stokes got the crucial wicket of KL Rahul, overturning the umpire's not-out call for an LBW via DRS.

More: When is India vs England 4th Test starting? Date and venue listed for next Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy match

Woakes then broke the partnership between Jadeja and Reddy just before lunch. This left England two wickets away from winning. And they sealed it after the break.

When is the 4th Test between India and England?

The 4th Test between India and England will start on Wednesday, July 23 and is scheduled to end on Sunday, July 27.

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Where is the 4th Test between India and England?

The fourth Test between India and England will be played at Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Divy Dubey

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition. He has a passion for cricket and is an avid fan of football. His work spans culture, media, and digital trends. With a background in research and a curiosity-driven approach, he enjoys crafting thoughtful, engaging stories that invite readers to see everyday topics in a new light.