Gambhir Lauds Jadeja's Tenacity in Lord's Test Narrow Loss

London, Jul 18 (PTI) - India's head coach Gautam Gambhir showered praise on seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, celebrating his heroic performance during the Lord's Test against England, which he described as an "incredible fight." Jadeja's relentless unbeaten innings of 61 off 181 balls stood out, despite India falling short by 22 runs in the third Test. "That was an incredible fight. The fight from Jaddu was absolutely brilliant," said Gambhir in a video titled 'The MVP ft. Ravindra Jadeja,' posted on the BCCI website on Friday. Chasing a modest target of 193, India's batting order collapsed, with the top eight batsmen falling inside 40 overs. Nevertheless, Jadeja, who batted at No. 7, displayed immense tenacity and composure alongside tail-enders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Together, they weathered over 34 overs to keep India's hopes alive. While Bumrah managed to face 54 balls for his 5, Siraj played out 30 deliveries for his 4 before becoming the last wicket to fall to Shoaib Bashir. India's innings concluded at 170 in 74.5 overs, trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. "His batting has reached another level. In the last two Tests, the consistency and the calmness he brought to the dressing room. I've watched him for so many years and how he's developed his game now, his defense is rock solid, looks like a proper batter," commented Gambhir's deputy Ryan ten Doeschate. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who was once Jadeja's Saurashtra teammate at the domestic level, emphasized the all-rounder's ability to handle pressure. "I always felt he has the ability to take pressure. With so much experience, he usually provides exactly what the team needs in challenging conditions. Really, really valuable to the team," Kotak remarked. Pacer Mohammed Siraj echoed this sentiment, highlighting Jadeja's comprehensive skill set. "It's very difficult to get a player like him, and we are lucky to have such a player in our team," Siraj added. Opener Shubman Gill, speaking at the post-match press conference, also acknowledged Jadeja's impact. "He is one of the most valuable players of India. The skill set he brings with his batting, bowling, and fielding is very rare. The way Jaddu bhai batted was a very proud effort. The character and the courage they showed was tremendous," noted Gill. India will need to secure victory in the fourth Test, commencing in Manchester on July 23, to keep their hopes of winning the series alive.

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