Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar stated that India lacked a partnership of 60-70 runs and that cost them the third Test at Lord’s against England on July 14. India, chasing 193 runs, lost the game by 22 runs, after being reduced to 82/7 at one stage.

Ravindra Jadeja was India's only hope for a miracle at Lord's after Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer caused another collapse early on Day 5, leaving the visitors eight down in their chase of 193. The all-rounder put up a brave fight alongside No. 10 Jasprit Bumrah and last man Mohammed Siraj, scoring the slowest fifty in his Test career.

England was highly irritated by Jadeja's presence, since they had anticipated wrapping up the game in the first session. Gavaskar questioned the reasoning behind Jadeja's conservative approach in the chase, as he hit an unbeaten 61 off 181.

"A partnership of 60-70 would have made a difference. India never got that. You could say that Jadeja could have taken the odd chance and not necessarily the aerial route when Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir were bowling. But full marks to him (Jadeja)," Gavaskar said on Sony Sports.

When Bashir and Root bowled against India, Jadeja had the opportunity to score a boundary or a six, especially with Ben Stokes stationed at mid-off.

"I thought when Bashir came to bowl, Jadeja could have taken a chance. The second time was when Bumrah was batting with him, because Stokes was fielding inside the circle at mid-off. So, he could have scored a boundary there, especially when Joe Root was bowling. Later, when Siraj came to bat, Stokes stationed himself near the boundary rope," Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

England and India now head to Manchester, the venue for the fourth Test, which begins on July 23. eh