Former Australia captain Greg Chappell argued that India captain Shubman Gill should have encouraged Ravindra Jadeja to play more aggressively during his side's tense run chase against England at Lord’s.
Chasing 193 in the fourth innings with the series tied 1-1, India collapsed to 82-7 before losing Nitish Kumar Reddy (13) just before lunch on day five, sitting at 112-8. With Jadeja still at the crease but only Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj to follow, an imminent defeat seemed inevitable.
However, Jadeja and the tail mounted a gritty rearguard. Bumrah survived 54 balls (the third-longest knock of his career) for five runs, while Siraj faced a career-high 30 balls. With Jadeja at the end, they hung around as India inched toward the target. In the meantime, Jadeja completed a defiant fifty, but his subdued celebration suggested a victory would be his ultimate prize. However, in a cruel twist, No.11 Siraj was bowled by Shoaib Bashir – the ball trickling back onto his stumps after a defensive shot – leaving India 22 runs short in a heart-stopping finish.
Given India's brittle tail, there were suggestions that Jadeja should have shown more aggression to shoulder the bulk of the scoring. While Chappell acknowledged the innings as "disciplined", he also suggested the all-rounder might have benefited from more "calculated risks".
Also read: Go slow or go home: Why Ravindra Jadeja was right to try and do it in singles at Lord's
"Left with the tail, Jadeja did what many specialist batters do in that situation: he shielded the tail, farmed the strike, and played conservatively. On the surface, it was a disciplined innings. But was it the right one?" Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo. "The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn't to leave balls and collect singles - it was to win the match."
With the Indian management confirming that Jasprit Bumrah will play just three Tests in England, should he be in the XI at Manchester?#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/eZfquvOM1Q
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 19, 2025
Chappell: Gill should have told Jadeja to be more aggressive
Chappell felt India skipper Gill should have been more proactive in telling Jadeja to be more aggressive: "That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain.
"He needed to be told directly: 'You are the man who has to get this done. The tail's job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win.'"
Jadeja’s fifty in the fourth innings was his fourth in a row. His 61 not out lasted for 181 deliveries. Chappell cited Stokes' 135 not out at Leeds in the 2019 Ashes to support his argument.
"We saw exactly that from England's Ben Stokes against Australia in Leeds in 2019. In a similar situation, he backed himself and produced one of the best innings of the past 50 years. Importantly, Stokes played that innings knowing that, succeed or fail, his team and leadership would have his back. That's the mindset that needs to be fostered in any great team.
"And this is where Gill's leadership challenge becomes very real. He must start setting those expectations - clearly, proactively, and consistently."
During Stokes’ rescue act, when the ninth wicket fell at 286 in that chase, No. 11 Jack Leach contributed just a run, while Stokes single-handedly scored the majority of runs to guide England to their 359-run target.
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