Cheteshwar Pujara Defends Ravindra Jadeja's Approach in Lord’s Thriller: “You Don’t Score 300 Without Class”

Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has come out strongly in support of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose measured knock in the third Test at Lord’s drew criticism from some quarters. India narrowly lost the match by 22 runs while chasing 193, and Jadeja's patient unbeaten 61 off 181 deliveries has become a focal point in post-match debates.

"UNWARRANTED CRITICISM" — PUJARA ON JADEJA'S TEMPO

In a conversation with The Indian Express, Pujara deemed the backlash over Jadeja's slow scoring with the tailenders as misplaced. He emphasized that the conditions made free-flowing batting nearly impossible.

> “He couldn’t have scored faster on that track,” Pujara explained. “The ball had gone soft, and the pitch was quite slow. Jadeja likely believed that with the tailenders showing some resilience, a cautious approach could see them through.”

India’s chase was in tatters at 71 for five when Jadeja walked in. From there, he formed critical partnerships — 40 runs with Nitish Kumar Reddy, 35 with Jasprit Bumrah, and 23 with Mohammed Siraj — that brought India tantalizingly close to victory. At one stage, they needed just 23 runs with two wickets in hand.

TACTICAL CHOICES AND MISSED GAPS

While acknowledging the difficulty of the conditions, Pujara did suggest one minor adjustment Jadeja could have made to optimize scoring.

> “The only thing he might’ve done differently is target the gap between mid-off and cover,” he said. “Scoring down the ground was an opportunity that could’ve been explored more.”

Still, Pujara reaffirmed that the overall strategy was sound and shaped by the match context.

JADEJA’S EVOLUTION AS A BATTER

Pujara was full of praise for Jadeja’s batting development over the years, especially his ability to face pace bowlers abroad something that had been a weakness earlier in his career.

> “He’s been working hard on his technique for the last five years. You’ll always find him practicing in the nets, even on match days,” Pujara noted.

He credited Jadeja’s technical adjustments, especially playing closer to the body, for the improved results.

> “He no longer goes at the ball. He plays under the eyes and close to the body, which allows him to handle tough conditions better,” he explained.

“YOU DON’T SCORE 300 WITHOUT SKILL”

Pointing to Jadeja’s record in domestic cricket  including two triple centuries — Pujara highlighted that such achievements reflect a high level of batting prowess.

> “You can’t get 300 in first-class cricket without class. Earlier, he struggled to convert starts at the international level, but that’s been changing,” Pujara said.

A KNOCK FRAMED BY CONTEXT, NOT STRIKE RATE

Jadeja’s innings may have lacked fireworks, but it was built on grit and composure  attributes essential in tense fourth-innings chases. While India ultimately fell short, Pujara’s defense serves as a reminder that in such situations, the quality and intent behind the innings matter more than the scoring rate.

EYES ON MANCHESTER

With the fourth Test set to begin in Manchester on July 23, Jadeja remains a crucial cog in India’s plans, with his dual role as a dependable lower-order batter and a threatening spinner likely to play a significant part.