India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja breached the Indian cricket board’s (BCCI) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the second day of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Thursday.
Jadeja scored a brilliant 89 and shared a 203-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill to salvage India’s innings after they were reduced to 211 for 5 on Day 1. However, Jadeja found himself under fire for a disciplinary breach. The cricketer violated a BCCI protocol implemented after India’s 2024-25 tour of Australia, which stipulates that all players must travel to and from the ground together on the team bus, with no individual movement permitted.
The all-rounder broke the SOPs as he walked into Edgbaston early while the rest of the players arrived later. He did so for a net session with the bat before resuming his innings. As he did it to serve the cause of the team, BCCI is unlikely to take action against Jadeja.
Jadeja was preferred over Kuldeep Yadav for the Edgbaston Test as India looked to strengthen their lower order following collapses in both innings of the first Test in Leeds. Jadeja was well aware of his responsibility, and he played his role wisely by sticking to the crease and providing crucial support to Gill, who anchored the Indian innings with a magnificent 269. After resuming his innings on 41, Jadeja added 48 more runs before being dismissed by Josh Tongue.
Reflecting on the breach of SOPs, Jadeja said, “Somewhere I felt that I should go and bat extra because the ball was still new. I felt if I can see the new ball off, it would become easy for the rest of the innings. Luckily I could bat till lunch, and then Washi[ngton Sundar] also batted well with Shubman. The more you bat in England, the better it is because you never feel you are set in England. At any time a ball can swing and take your edge or bowl you.”
Jadeja rotated the strike well and decorated his innings with ten boundaries and a six. “When you contribute with the bat for the team, it feels great. When you are playing outside India, and the team needs you more, it feels good,” Jadeja said. “From 210 for 5 to put together a big partnership to take the team forward, it is a challenge. I took it as a challenge. If you can stick around with the captain and put together a big partnership, it gives you confidence as a cricketer and a batter that in the coming matches also you can contribute.”
After posting 587 in the first innings, India took control of the match, with Akash Deep giving England an early blow by removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, while Mohammed Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley. England are currently reeling at 77 for 3 and trailing by 510 runs.