Former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar said that he wasn’t happy with the move to promote Ravindra Jadeja before Sarfaraz Khan at the time on the opening day of the third Test in Rajkot. However, after missing the second Test with a hamstring injury, the all-rounder came into bat in the ninth over, with India struggling at 33/3 in their first innings. It was only the eighth instance of Jadeja batting at No.5 or higher in his 102 Test innings as well.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo at stumps on Day 1, Manjrekar said, “Have to applaud Jadeja for what he did because batting him at No. 5 was something I didn’t like at the time. Just for a left-right combination when that has a huger impact in white-ball cricket and not as much in Test cricket. And can’t assume Sarfaraz Khan can’t play left-arm spin well when he might actually be brilliant against it. Always better to send your debutant, a pure batter, ahead of somebody like Jadeja.”

The veteran has shown tremendous resolve to combat the England bowlers and score his fourth Test century. It was also Jadeja’s first at No.5, with his other three Test tons coming at No.7 as well. Ranked No.1 in the world in Test all-rounders, he struck nine boundaries and two maximums in his innings as well.

“The move to send Jadeja at No. 5 and it working was purely because of this interesting mindset he has got where he backs himself so much that he is able to just bat almost Pujara style on occasions. Because he knows he has a good enough defense, the shots and the reserves to get a 100. He has got a lot of these knocks where he takes his time and rides the tough passages, which is fascinating for someone to have such a temperament,” concluded Sanjay Manjrekar.