Former cricketer said a big thing about Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling on the fifth day

England secured a five-wicket victory in the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, taking a 1–0 lead in the series and raising serious questions about India’s bowling strategy on the final day. Among the critics, former Indian pacer Varun Aaron openly pointed out Ravindra Jadeja’s underwhelming performance, particularly in the crucial final session when India was desperately trying to defend a modest total. Jadeja, one of India's most experienced and dependable bowlers, failed to make an impact, finishing with figures of 1 for 104 in 24 overs in England's second innings. According to Aaron, it wasn’t just that Jadeja failed to take wickets—it was the way he bowled that was concerning.

Speaking on Star Sports’ show *Follow the Blues*, Varun Aaron didn’t hold back in his analysis. He said that Jadeja, despite having vast experience, failed to consistently hit the rough patches on the fifth-day surface—something that’s often the key for spinners in Test cricket. “If we look at the footage, more than the reverse sweep, when Jadeja was bowling over the wicket, I would say he was missing the rough a lot. He either bowled very short balls or very fast or full. They were all pitching between the wickets, not on the rough,” Aaron observed. This technical flaw allowed England’s batters, especially Ben Duckett, to counter-attack with ease. Duckett took full advantage of Jadeja's predictable line and pace, often employing the reverse sweep to break the field and score freely.

Aaron emphasized that much more was expected from a bowler of Jadeja’s calibre, especially in such high-pressure moments. “He’s a very experienced player who bowls really well in the rough, especially in Indian conditions. He has produced many match-winning performances alongside Ravichandran Ashwin. On a fifth-day pitch, you expect him to land the ball in the rough areas and help India push for a historic win,” Aaron added. The absence of Ashwin in the playing XI added more responsibility on Jadeja’s shoulders, and unfortunately, he couldn’t rise to the occasion.

Interestingly, Varun Aaron is not the only former cricketer to question Jadeja’s performance. Earlier, Sanjay Manjrekar had also criticised the left-arm spinner for failing to capitalize on a pitch that was increasingly assisting spinners. Manjrekar, known for his no-nonsense views, stated that the surface had enough to offer, and an experienced player like Jadeja should have made more of it. “You expect a senior player like him to shine in moments like these. The pitch had plenty for spinners, but he couldn’t leave his mark,” Manjrekar commented during a post-match analysis.

This collective criticism reflects a growing concern within the Indian cricket fraternity about India’s inability to finish games, especially overseas. While England’s batting was certainly commendable, the lack of penetration in India's bowling attack—despite having a surface that offered some assistance—was a major letdown. Jadeja’s misfiring spells contributed to England’s ease in chasing down the target, and questions will likely be raised about India’s team composition, bowling strategy, and the absence of a second specialist spinner.

As the series progresses, Ravindra Jadeja will be under pressure to bounce back and deliver the kind of match-winning spells he’s known for. India, trailing 0–1 in the series, cannot afford another off day from one of its most senior players. With the next Test just around the corner, all eyes will be on Jadeja—will he correct his lengths, target the rough more precisely, and return to form, or will India have to rethink their spin strategy altogether? Only time will tell.