Star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has stated that the top-order of the team should fire and score some runs in the Boxing Day Test match. Jadeja said that lack of runs from the top-order creates a lot of pressure on the lower-order so its important that they should fire at first.
Indian batting order, especially at the top, has not been able to fire in the last three matches as much as they should have.
Jadeja, meanwhile, played a vital role in the rain-marred third Test match against Australia at the Gabba Brisbane, smashing brilliant 77 runs in the first innings to help India secure a draw in a game which would have turned into another loss for the visitors had rain not played a spoilsport. The series remains equally poised at 1-1, with two more matches to go.
Top-order runs are very important when you play outside India, particularly in Australia and South Africa. When the top order doesn't score runs, the pressure and responsibility pile up on the lower order," said Jadeja during an interaction at the MCG. "Hopefully, the top-order and the middle-order do well in this Test. As a team, we require the top order to score. If everyone contributes within the batting unit, then the team will do all right," he added.
Indian top-order struggles
India's top-order batting failed in the Brisbane Test except KL Rahul, who scored valiantly at 84. Rest of the batsmen from the playing eleven, even biggies in the game, could not show some class and put up with any level of competence. Jadeja, playing his first game of the series, ensured that India never lost its grip over the scoreboard, saving the game for India.
Heroics from Jadeja helped India avoid the follow-on when ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep came up with a fine partnership for the last wicket. After the end of the match, Ravichandran Ashwin announced retirement from all the forms of cricket.
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