IND vs ENG: Ravindra Jadeja becomes 1st India player to Unique Record in this Century, joins Elite List

Ravindra Jadeja produced one of the most memorable rearguard efforts by an Indian batter at Lord's during the gripping third Test of the 2025 series against England.

Chasing 193 for victory on a challenging Day 5 pitch, India collapsed to 112 for 8 by lunch, their top order undone by the relentless pace of Jofra Archer and the guile of Ben Stokes. With the match seemingly lost, Jadeja stood firm, shepherding the tail and keeping India's hopes flickering.

Jadeja's unbeaten 61 off 181 balls was a masterclass in composure and grit. He batted for more than two and a half hours with the last two wickets, first in partnership with Jasprit Bumrah and then with Mohammed Siraj, reducing the target to just 30 runs at tea. His innings included timely boundaries, particularly against Archer and Stokes, but was defined more by his ability to absorb pressure and rotate the strike, especially as England's bowlers turned up the intensity in front of a raucous Lord's crowd. It was Jadeja's fourth consecutive half-century in the series.

Despite his efforts, India were bowled out for 170, falling short by 22 runs as Shoaib Bashir claimed the final wicket of Siraj. Jadeja's knock was widely praised for its resilience, with pundits calling it one of his finest Test innings, even though it ended in heartbreak for India as England took a 2-1 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Earlier in the match, Jadeja had also scored a vital 72 in the first innings, helping India match England's 387.

Ravindra Jadeja Vinoo Mankad in Elite List

After his knock, Jadeja has now joined Vinoo Mankad as only the second Indian to score fifty-plus in both innings of a Lord's Test.

Before Jadeja, this rare feat was achieved by Vinoo Mankad in 1952. In that match, Mankad opened the batting and scored 72 in the first innings, followed by a monumental 184 in the second, nearly single-handedly carrying India's batting and setting a benchmark for all-round excellence at Lord's.

After the defeat at Lord's, India trail the series 1-2 and will be hoping to restore parity in the 4th Test, which starts from July 23 in Manchester.