NEW DELHI: Star India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja on Saturday highlighted how the lack of runs from the top-order puts pressure on the lower-order and called for an improved performance from the batting unit in the Boxing Day Test. Jadeja played a key role in the rain-affected third Test against Australia in Brisbane, scoring a determined 77 in the first innings to help India secure a draw.
“Top-order runs are very important when you play outside India, especially in Australia and South Africa. When the top order doesn’t score runs, the responsibility and pressure increase on the lower order,” Jadeja said during an interaction at the MCG.
“Hopefully, the top-order and the middle-order do well in this Test. As a team, we need the top order to perform. If everyone contributes in the batting unit, the team will do well.”

India’s top-order struggled in Brisbane, with the exception of opener KL Rahul, who played a valiant knock of 84. The rest of the top and middle order faltered, but Jadeja, playing his first match of the tour, kept India in the game.
The match was eventually saved by a heroic last-wicket stand between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, who managed to avoid the follow-on.
While Washington Sundar was selected for the opening Test in Perth, Ravichandran Ashwin played in the second Test in Adelaide.
India secured a massive 295-run victory in Perth, but Australia responded by leveling the series with a dominant 10-wicket win in the Pink Ball Test at Adelaide.

With the series tied at 1-1, India needs just one win in the remaining matches to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Jadeja emphasised the importance of the Boxing Day Test.
“It’s good that we are 1-1 after three Tests. The next two games will be very interesting too. If we win even one Test, we’ll retain the trophy because we won the last two series.
“It’s a good opportunity to make that one good effort. We’ll see what happens in the last match, but this is a very important and crucial match for us,” he added.