Ravindra Jadeja guiding India lower order vs England with intent: Varun Aaron

ENG vs IND: Ravindra Jadeja's composed 41* and a steady 99-run stand with skipper Shubman Gill helped India recover from a top-order collapse and end Day 1 of the Birmingham Test against England in a strong position.

In Short

• Jadeja guided India lower order after top-order collapse in Birmingham
• He attacked Bashir with calculated aggression during evening session
• India reached 310/5 after struggling at 211/5 post tea

Former India pacer Varun Aaron lauded Ravindra Jadeja for playing a key and composed role with the bat on Day 1 of the second Test against England in Birmingham. The Indian all-rounder stood tall amidst a top- and middle-order collapse, guiding the lower order with proactive and aggressive intent against the England bowlers.

Unlike their commanding performance in the Leeds Test, India’s top order failed to replicate the same dominance. However, it was skipper Shubman Gill and Jadeja’s calm partnership at the back end of the innings that helped India end Day 1 in a competitive position.

Coming in to bat at No. 7, Jadeja provided crucial support to his captain, helping India recover from a shaky 211/5 after the dismissal of Nitish Kumar Reddy. The pair stitched together a vital unbeaten 99-run stand, steadying the innings and pushing India past the 300-run mark by stumps.

ENG vs IND, 2nd Test, Day 1: HIGHLIGHTS

Aaron, speaking on JioHotstar, pointed out how Jadeja’s calculated aggression—especially against spinner Shoaib Bashir—played a key role in shifting momentum back in India’s favour. He highlighted Jadeja’s ability to rotate strike, keep the scoreboard moving, and maintain a strong presence at the crease without falling into a defensive shell.

“I thought Jaddu’s body language was brilliant. From ball one, he was looking to rotate strike, show intent, and stay mobile at the crease. He didn’t just try to grind it out ball after ball — he was actively looking to make things happen," Aaron said.

What stood out was how he approached Bashir. Normally, he’d play him cautiously, but today he took calculated risks — and that’s what mattered. He made sure the scoreboard kept moving. By the final session, India were scoring close to four runs an over — and that’s exactly where you want to be. As Ravindra Jadeja, when you're guiding the lower order, you want to be solid but also bring some aggression,"he added.

India's innings began with promise as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a fluent 87 and added an 80-run stand with Karun Nair (31). However, the middle order failed to capitalise, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant—coming off twin centuries in Leeds—managing just 25 this time.

It was once again Shubman Gill who stood up when it mattered. The Indian captain brought up his second century of the series with a composed and mature knock, anchoring the innings after the collapse. From the other end, Jadeja’s unbeaten 41 ensured that India didn’t lose further wickets in the final session, maintaining a scoring rate close to four runs per over during the closing stages.

Aaron acknowledged that Jadeja’s approach in guiding the lower order combined solid defence with intent to score—helping India finish strongly after being in a precarious position earlier in the day.

India ended Day 1 at 310/5, a total that looked far from reach at one point. As Day 2 beckons, Indian fans will hope Jadeja’s experience continues to complement Gill’s form, with the pair eyeing a bigger lead to put pressure back on the hosts.

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