Kl Rahul and Ravindra Jadej showed a remarkable patience and decided to script a strong return for India in the fourth test against England in Manchester. India found herself in an uncertain position of 311 runs in the first shifts. But thanks to Rahul and Jadeji, visitors returned to ensure a hard -to -fight and maintain a series alive. Former Opener of India Aakash Chopra praised the efforts of the duo and called them the central point of what became an engaging competition.
Chopra spoke on his YouTube channel and appreciated KLAL’S Composed and disciplined Knock. He described the opening opener from 230 balls like “monk -like” and expressed hope that Rahul’s contributions would finally receive proper recognition. “At some point, I hope people start to give him the respect he deserves. He plays as Tapasvi, the real ascetic ascetic in a speaker. He may have missed his century, but was the first Indian order in this series,” Chopra said.
The absence of Rohit Sharma, which left the test cricket before the series, raised questions about the stability of the highest order of India. But Rahul, along with young and aggressive Yashsvi, intensified Jaiswal. Chopra admitted that he had his doubts about how India would match without Rohit, especially in English conditions. “We expected Rohit to miss at some point, given the last time he was. But KL and Yashasvi did incredibly well. They were solid and confident, and that was vital,” he added.
While Rahul laid the foundation, it was Jadeja who closed the door to England to win. His undefeated 107 out of 185 balls were not only a century – it was a statement about maturity and confirmation of his position as one of the leading all games. His 203-party partnership with Washington Sundar, who also stayed on a hundred, turned the tide on the last day and blunted the English attack.
When Chopra thought about the criticism he once faced for the assessment of Jadeja before Ben Stokes as the best testing versatile, he said, “People gave me this call, but the numbers supported it. And now Jadeja is shown why it is a real agreement. He also admired Jadeji’s hunger for personal milestones in the middle of pressure. “He wasn’t looking for a draw, he wanted a hundred. And right. He earned every piece. England thought they could win when he came but didn’t allow it to happen.”
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
28th July 2025
