During the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Ravindra Jadeja reportedly violated a BCCI protocol but is unlikely to face any disciplinary action. The protocol, implemented after India's tour of Australia in 2024-25, mandates that all players travel together to and from the ground on the team bus. Jadeja, however, arrived at Edgbaston separately from the team to participate in a net session before continuing his innings.
Jadeja's decision to arrive early was driven by his desire to get extra batting practice. He felt that facing the new ball early would make the rest of his innings easier. Jadeja explained that he wanted to bat extra because the ball was still new, and he felt that seeing off the new ball would make the rest of the innings easier. He was fortunate to bat until lunch, after which Washington Sundar also batted well with Shubman Gill. He also added that the more one bats in England, the better it is because one never feels truly set, as a ball can swing and find an edge or bowl one out at any time.
Jadeja's initiative came after India's batting order had collapsed in the first Test at Leeds. His inclusion in the Edgbaston Test, ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, was specifically aimed to strengthen the lower order. Recognizing his responsibility, Jadeja provided valuable support to Shubman Gill, who scored an impressive 269. Jadeja contributed a crucial 89 runs himself, adding 203 runs in partnership with Gill and helping India recover from 211 for 5 on Day 1.
Despite the SOP breach, the BCCI is unlikely to take any disciplinary action against Jadeja, considering his intent to support the team's cause. His impressive knock of 89 was crucial to India's substantial total of 587. This deviation from protocol, while technically a breach, was driven by professional intent.
Jadeja also discussed an on-field discussion with England captain Ben Stokes, who repeatedly complained to the umpires about Jadeja running on the pitch after playing front-foot strokes. Jadeja clarified that he had no intention of creating rough patches and that any instance of it happening was accidental. He also noted that the pitch had flattened out and would require disciplined bowling with in-out fields.
BCCI's revamped SOPs also prohibit players from traveling with personal staff like cooks and stylists on tour, aiming to streamline team discipline. The message from the BCCI appears to be that while discipline is essential, context also matters. Jadeja's case demonstrates a situation where a technical breach of protocol is being overlooked due to the player's intention to contribute to the team's success.
