IND vs ENG 4th Test: Ravindra Jadeja’s fighting ton breaks a 23-year Indian record | Cricket News

Ravindra Jadeja once again proved why he is one of India’s most valuable Test players, bringing up his fifth Test hundred in a spirited fightback on Day 5 of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. His composed century helped India push the game closer to a draw after a tense morning session. Jadeja walked in with India under pressure but didn’t let nerves get the better of him. He soaked up the pressure and then began to find his rhythm. Much like in the Lord’s Test where he stood tall with the lower order, Jadeja displayed the same grit and class in Manchester.

This century marks a special milestone in his career. He became the first Indian in 23 years to score over 400 runs in a single Test series while batting at No.6 or lower. The last to do it was VVS Laxman in the West Indies back in 2002. Jadeja’s consistency in overseas conditions has also been outstanding. He now has 12 fifty-plus scores in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) batting lower down the order, only behind MS Dhoni’s 13. What makes it more impressive is that Jadeja has achieved this in just 47 innings. His recent run with the bat has been remarkable: 89, 69*, 72, 61*, 20, and now 100 not out. These are numbers of a player who is not just hanging around but shaping the outcome of games.

Jadeja, along with Washington Sundar, showed great fight in the post-lunch session. Their partnership echoed the resilience KL Rahul and Shubman Gill displayed earlier in the innings. India may have lost narrowly at Lord’s despite Jadeja’s valiant stand with Bumrah and Siraj, but today, the story was different. The left-hander batted with maturity and intent, taking India closer to safety and giving fans another reason to admire his all-round brilliance.