BGT 2024-25: "Important for them to make runs.." Ravindra Jadeja asks for more responsibility from top-order batsmen

Ravindra Jadeja made a gritty half-century in Brisbane.

Ahead of the fourth BGT 2024-25 test in Melbourne, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja spoke about the lack of runs from the top-order, asking them to do well in the upcoming test.

In four out of India’s five completed innings so far in the series, the top five have faltered to provide solid bases for the lower-order to extend the score.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli scored a century each in Perth while KL Rahul has hit two fifties. Otherwise, Indian top-order have majorly surrendered to the Australian pace attack in the series. India’s top five have collectively averaged 30 in this series so far.

At the Gabba, India slipped to 74/5. It was then fifties from Jadeja, Rahul and cameos from Akash Deep and Bumrah that helped the team avoid the follow-on.

Speaking with the reporters on Saturday at the MCG, Jadeja asserted the importance of runs from the top-order while playing overseas.

The all-rounder said, “When you play outside India, especially in Australia or South Africa, it’s important for the top order to make runs,” Jadeja told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“If the top order doesn’t make runs or give us a good start, then definitely there is more pressure and responsibility on the lower and middle order. Hopefully in this match they do well.

“As a team, we need them to perform. If everyone contributes in the batting unit, the team will do well.”

It will be a crucial match: Ravindra Jadeja

After his 77 in Brisbane, Jadeja is likely to be retained in the playing XI for the MCG test, where India won their last two test matches in 2018 and 2020.

Should India avoid a loss in the fourth test, they will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But Jadeja sees a good opportunity of securing a hat-trick of test series wins in Australia.

“The next two matches will be interesting. If we win one match we retain the series, we obviously won the last two series here. It’s a good opportunity. This will be a crucial match,” the southpaw added.

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