No praise was enough for Ravindra Jadeja, who took India close to an unlikely Test win at Lord’s on Monday. However, former greats lamented that his reluctance to take greater risks with the bat might have cost India the match.

Coming in at number seven with India in deep trouble at 71 for 5, Jadeja crafted a gritty unbeaten 61, guiding the tail through a tense final session. From 112 for 8 at lunch, India mounted a spirited fightback, eventually falling short of the 193-run target and being bowled out for 170 after tea on the last day of the third Test against England.

Jadeja, who watched the top order collapse around him, opted for a cautious approach. He shielded tailenders Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj from England’s relentless pace by farming the strike, settling largely for singles and curbing his natural attacking instincts. Despite his determined resistance over four hours, the lack of support from the lower order left him stranded and India agonisingly short of a famous win.