India Vs England: Sourav Ganguly Demands More Application From Top Order

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly expressed his "disappointment" regarding the team's batting performance in the third Test of the ongoing India vs England Test series. India failed to chase 193 runs at Lord's despite a valiant effort from Ravindra Jadeja who scored an unbeaten half-century to keep the team in the game. This top-order batting "failure" prevented India from securing a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, believes Ganguly.

Ganguly's Criticises India's Batting Performance

Sourav Ganguly said he felt "a little bit disappointed with the way India batted in this series," while speaking at an event.

Ganguly remarked the team members "will be more disappointed than I am because it was an opportunity to get 2-1 up in the series against England" as he highlighted the "quality of batsmanship" in the dressing room.

He felt confident that had the top-order batters "applied a bit better," the outcome would have differed. Yashasvi Jaiswal recorded a duck, Shubman Gill scored six runs, Rishabh Pant managed a mere nine, and KL Rahul contributed 39 runs at the top. Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 61 runs.

Ganguly emphasized, "If there was even a little bit of fight from the top, this game would have been India's match."

Lord's Test Result and World Test Championship Impact

England secured a 22-run victory over India in the third Test at Lord's. India, chasing a target of 193 runs, fell short by 22 on the fifth day. England now leads the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-1.

This result significantly affected World Test Championship (WTC) standings. England's points percentage (PCT) rose from 50% to 66.67%, putting them level with Sri Lanka in second place, behind only an undefeated Australia. India's PCT dropped from second to fourth, now standing at 33.33%. Only Bangladesh (16.67%) and the winless West Indies (0%) rank lower, underscoring the importance of each remainder match for crucial WTC points.

Ravindra Jadeja's Resilience

Ravindra Jadeja anchored India's resistance, facing 181 deliveries for his 61 not out. He shared substantial lower-order stands with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Despite Jadeja's tenacity, India's hopes ended in the final session when Mohammed Siraj was dismissed in a "bizarre fashion," with the ball rolling onto his stumps, leaving India 22 runs short of victory.

Sourav Ganguly, the former BCCI chief, praised Jadeja, stating he had been "exceptional" and "kept India in the hunt." Ganguly called him a "special player," adding, "He is going to continue to play for India as long as he bats and performs like this." Ganguly further noted, "He has been around for a long time. He has played some 80 Test matches and more than 200 one-day games."

He highlighted, "You can see him batting, bowling, and fielding. He is a special player and his batting has really improved over the years with the experience. He is a special player and very important part of this team." Jadeja's four-hour vigil showcased his development as an all-rounder.

During this tour, he surpassed 2,000 Test runs and secured 100 WTC wickets, cementing his place among cricket's elite. Both Sourav Ganguly and current observers have praised Jadeja, calling him an "irreplaceable asset" to Indian cricket for his continuous improvement across all disciplines.

England claimed a narrow victory at Headingley, India dominated at Edgbaston, and England secured a close win at Lord’s. The series moves to Old Trafford for the fourth Test, beginning July 23, and concludes with the final Test in early August, leaving the narrative open for further twists.