Irfan Pathan Criticizes Ravindra Jadeja for Lack of Intent After India’s Sluggish Finish Costs Them in Raipur

In the recent second ODI in Raipur, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan criticized Ravindra Jadeja for his lack of urgency during his innings. India suffered a four-wicket defeat to South Africa, a game that saw both Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad score centuries, elevating the team’s total to 358 runs. Despite this solid performance, Jadeja’s slow finish was deemed a significant factor in the loss.

Irfan Pathan’s Critique of Jadeja

Pathan expressed his disappointment regarding Jadeja’s batting performance, specifically noting his innings of 24 runs off 27 balls. He described this effort as lacking the necessary aggression in a match situation that demanded quick scoring. “If everyone is striking above a run a ball and you’re at 88 strike rate, the innings lacked urgency,” remarked Pathan during commentary.

Impact on the Match

The former all-rounder highlighted the critical moments during India’s innings. He insisted that India, positioned strongly, failed to capitalize on their advantages. With conditions favoring run-scoring, Jadeja’s performance did not align with the expectations of fast-paced endings. “This score could have been 370,” he stated, emphasizing that the team let opportunities slip away.

South Africa’s Bowling Response

Pathan also acknowledged South Africa’s impressive bowling tactics in the closing overs. India managed to score only 55 runs from overs 39 to 49, allowing the visitors to regain control as they aimed for the target. Lungi Ngidi and his teammates put on a notable performance that limited India’s scoring opportunities.

Looking Ahead

With the ODI series tied at 1-1, India will face South Africa again in Vizag. Pathan believes that improved intent and run accumulation are vital for India’s success in the upcoming matches. He has called for the players, particularly Jadeja, to step up and deliver a more aggressive approach as they chase victory.