Speaking after India\u2019s dramatic 23-run loss, Kumble reflected on Jadeja\u2019s heroic effort but said that exposing tailender Mohammed Siraj to a full over from Shoaib Bashir was a decision that backfired at a critical moment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIf someone had to take a risk and get out, it should have been Jadeja, not Siraj,\u201d Kumble said, questioning the choice to let Siraj face three deliveries when only 23 runs were needed for victory. \u201cAllowing a full over to Bashir at such a stage was a misstep.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja walked in during the sixth over of Day 5 with India reeling at 82, chasing 193. He batted with calm and control, slowly building the total as wickets kept tumbling around him. His unbeaten 61 nearly pulled off one of the most improbable chases in recent Test memory, before Siraj was bowled trying to survive an over from Bashir \u2014 the same bowler Jadeja had kept off strike effectively throughout much of his innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The dismissal stirred memories of India\u2019s narrow defeat to Pakistan in Chennai in 1999 for Kumble. \u201cIt reminded me of that Test when Javagal Srinath was bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq while supporting Sachin Tendulkar, who had almost pulled off a miracle. It\u2019s a similar feeling,\u201d Kumble recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While praising Jadeja\u2019s composure and strategy through most of the innings, Kumble said he should\u2019ve taken calculated risks earlier against England\u2019s spin trio of Bashir, Root, and Woakes. \u201cThe pitch wasn\u2019t turning square. Jadeja had the ability to go after them. That could\u2019ve changed things,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The dismissal stirred memories of India\u2019s narrow defeat to Pakistan in Chennai in 1999 for Kumble. \u201cIt reminded me of that Test when Javagal Srinath was bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq while supporting Sachin Tendulkar, who had almost pulled off a miracle. It\u2019s a similar feeling,\u201d Kumble recalled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Still, Kumble hailed the contest as a \u201cgreat advertisement for Test cricket,\u201d noting that all three matches in the series so far had gone down to the wire. With England now leading 2-1, he added, \u201cSession by session, it\u2019s been a tightly contested series. Test cricket is alive and kicking.<\/p>\r\n\r\n