Jadeja has identified India's major struggle in the Border Gavaskar Trophy

With the series level at the completion of three matches, neither India nor Australia has emerged as the clearly superior team. Both sides have displayed their own set of struggles and silver linings. However, one area of concern is common and consistent across both teams, the performance of the top order. The Border Gavaskar Trophy has seen the top orders of both the visitors and the Kangaroos failing to make a significant impact. Barring KL Rahul, who has found form down under, the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have remained conspicuously quiet. Similarly, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney have yet to produce a single noteworthy knock in the three BGT matches. While Australia has taken the bold step of axing McSweeney to address the issue, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, in his latest interaction, has called on the top order to step up and join the league of run-scorers.

Ravindra Jadeja calls for the Indian top-order to show up in the Border Gavaskar Trophy

Ravindra Jadeja finally joined the Indian playing XI for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Gabba Test highlighted Jadeja as the only significant contributor in India's batting innings alongside KL Rahul. Rahul and Jadeja played gritty knocks to help India avoid the follow-on. Except for the opening Test of the BGT, played in Perth, India has not enjoyed a stable batting display from the top order. The consistent failures of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli across Adelaide and Brisbane have been the key reason for India's struggles against the Aussies.

Now, as the team gears up for the remaining matches in Melbourne and Sydney, Jadeja has emphasized the need for improved performances from India’s top-order batsmen. The iconic Boxing Day Test, the penultimate game, is next on the BGT calendar. With the series tied 1-1, the visitors have a fair chance of defending the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, a large part of this positive outlook rests on the shoulders of the Indian batters. While Rahul and Jadeja seem to be in good form with the bat, a fighting chance won't materialize unless the top order steps up at the MCG.

“Top-order runs are very important when you play outside India, especially in Australia and South Africa," Jadeja said. “When the top order doesn’t score runs, the responsibility and pressure increase on the lower order. 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," the all-rounder elaborated.

The all-rounder, moreover, reflected on his absence from the first two Tests. Jadeja said he didn’t take it negatively. Instead, he used the extra time to acclimatize to the conditions and refine his strategies, which helped him in Brisbane. Jadeja also highlighted that the team is aware of the equation that winning one of the remaining two Tests will ensure India retains the Border Gavaskar Trophy. He expressed confidence in his teammates’ readiness to seize the opportunity in Melbourne and make it count.

“Not playing the first two Tests gave me the chance and time to practice more," he said. “I got a nice few days to understand and get used to the conditions. All my handwork in the nets helped me in the match and I played as per my plans," Jadeja explained about sitting out of the first two matches.

“It’s good that we are 1-1 after three Tests," Jadeja noted. “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."