overcoming the improbable - the Jadeja-Sundar comeback and its placement among remarkable modern match-rescue acts
India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar put on a remarkable show at Old Trafford in 2025, salvaging a draw in the fifth and final Test against England. The series scoreline remained at 2-1 in England's favour, but the unbroken partnership of 203 runs between the all-rounders was a testament to their resilience and skill.
A Historic Partnership
Jadeja and Sundar's partnership was not just a defensive effort; it was a historic one. It was India’s joint-highest partnership at Old Trafford and the first double-century stand by an Indian pair at the venue. The partnership also contributed to a rare feat where three Indian batters - Shubman Gill, Jadeja, and Sundar - scored centuries in the second innings of the same Test, a first for India in Test cricket.
Comparison with Other Modern Draw-Salvaging Efforts
Comparing this partnership with other notable defensive partnerships worldwide, Jadeja and Sundar's stand was a modern, gritty, and skillful example of draw-salvaging. It combined tactical patience and concentration to deny victory to the opposition under pressure, much like the famous 2003 Oval Test between England and Australia or the 2017 Chennai Test where India batted out for a draw against Australia with key lower-order partnerships.
However, what made Jadeja and Sundar's partnership stand out was that it was achieved on a pitch that generally offered little to batters earlier and came when the team was drastically reduced to 0-2 in the innings. This partnership also reflects a modern trend where all-rounders play a crucial role in not only contributing with the ball but also helping save matches with the bat.
Notable Examples of Draw-Saving Efforts
There have been several other notable draw-saving efforts in Test cricket. For instance, in Durban 1999, Gary Kirsten played the second-longest innings ever in Test cricket, staying at the crease for 878 minutes to score 275 runs. In Wellington 2014, Brendon McCullum scored a triple hundred while marshalling the New Zealand rear-order, with BJ Watling and Jimmy Neesham also scoring hundreds.
In Adelaide 2012, Faf du Plessis batted for 367 deliveries to score 110* with a strike rate of 29.25, while New Zealand were 94-5 in response to India's 246-run lead. Ricky Ponting kept the Ashes scoreline level with a classic draw-saving effort on the same ground almost exactly 20 years ago.
The Impact of Jadeja and Sundar's Partnership
In summary, the Jadeja and Sundar partnership at Old Trafford represents a modern, gritty, and skillful example of draw-salvaging in Test cricket, matching or exceeding the quality and significance of recent defensive lower-order or all-rounder partnerships seen globally. Their efforts protected the tail and Rishabh Pant's broken foot from England's attack on Day Five, ensuring India did not lose the match outright. This partnership will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most memorable defensive efforts in Test cricket.
Sports-analysis reveals that the partnership between India's Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar at Old Trafford in 2025 was not only a defensive effort, but also a historic one, as it was India’s joint-highest partnership at Old Trafford and the first double-century stand by an Indian pair at the venue. The sports-analysis further illustrates that this partnership stands out among modern draw-salvaging efforts due to its gritty and skillful play, similar to other notable defensive partnerships worldwide such as the 2003 Oval Test between England and Australia or the 2017 Chennai Test where India batted out for a draw against Australia.
Consequently, the sports-analysis places Jadeja and Sundar's partnership as a remarkable example of all-rounders playing a crucial role in both contributing with the ball and helping save matches with the bat, a modern trend emerging in Test cricket.
