Ravindra Jadeja, Recovered from Injury, Gears Up for England Challenge

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, recently recovered from injury, expressed confidence in overcoming the England team in the upcoming third Test in Rajkot, starting this Thursday.

In a press conference preceding the Test match, Jadeja acknowledged England’s unique playing style and emphasized the need for India to strategize accordingly.

England’s Squad Adjustment for the Third Test

Jadeja downplayed the difficulty of defeating England, stating, “I wouldn’t categorize England as the toughest team to beat.”

He further elaborated, “It’s been challenging for other teams to secure a win on Indian soil. England has an aggressive playing style, which can be hit or miss. We need to devise a Plan B, maintain our fielding strategy, and prevent them from accumulating runs.”

Jadeja showcased his prowess with the bat and also claimed a five-wicket haul.

The all-rounder, who missed the second Test due to a hamstring injury, is optimistic about rejoining the team in Rajkot. He conceded that India made minor errors in the first Test’s second innings, which gave England a series lead. However, he is now confident of countering their aggressive batting style.

“When they are playing those shots, you can start thinking about where to bowl,” Jadeja said, adding that he plans to keep things simple without changing too much.

“It is better to keep the (bowling) lines as simple as possible in Test cricket because their batters look to play their strokes at every opportunity,” he said.

“If we adjust according to that, it is possible that we may end up giving more runs and not get wickets as well. We will keep it simple and let them do whatever they want to, we have our game plan and if we stick to it then there are chances of being successful.”

Jadeja claimed his third wicket as Cameron Green was bowled for 25.

Discussing his injury, Jadeja expressed his frustration over missing matches and speculated that his frequent fielding dives might be the cause of his recurring injuries. He had pulled his hamstring in the first Test in Hyderabad after a run-out during India’s fourth-innings chase.

“I can’t hide anywhere in the field, I am always in the hotspot be it any format and that’s probably the reason I get injuries,” he said.

“There is an expectation from the team that I take a good catch or field well, which is good. I need to work on my body cleverly and be careful.”

“I would like to give my 100 per cent and save my body and keep away from diving when not required,” he added.

Getting in the practice ahead of the third Test in Rajkot #INDvENG #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/FxD08IeKJy

Jadeja also said that he expects the wicket in Rajkot to be flat and hard, but agreed that the nature of the wicket keeps changing at this venue.

While there are concerns around India’s batting depth with Virat Kohli on personal leave, KL Rahul ruled out and Shreyas Iyer out of the squad, Jadeja maintained that the new players coming into the squad were good enough to step up.

“All these new boys are coming into the side after playing a lot of first-class cricket,” he said.

“These are seasoned players, they know how to play long innings and have an idea of how it goes in Test cricket.

ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Standings

“This was anyway inevitable, whether it comes after two years or five, it is good for them that they are getting an opportunity in the home conditions.”

The third Test begins on Thursday with the series in the balance at 1-1. The five-match series is a big one for both teams with crucial World Test Championship points up for grabs. While India are third in the points table currently, England are languishing behind at the eighth spot.