Jadeja Sets the Trap, Sundar Strikes: Stokes Falls to India’s Clever Plan

Jadeja’s Quick Thinking, Sundar’s Precision: How India Nailed Stokes Before Lunch.

Team India delivered a near-flawless performance in the second Test at Edgbaston, and by lunch on Day 5, they stood at the doorstep of a historic win. Chasing a towering 608, England were floundering at 153 for 6 — and the biggest moment of the morning came just before the break, when Ben Stokes was trapped plumb in front by Washington Sundar.

But the wicket wasn’t Sundar’s alone. It was the product of sharp match awareness and teamwork — particularly a clever time-management move from Ravindra Jadeja.

With less than five minutes left in the session, Jadeja was bowling his sixth over. Though wicketless, he rushed through his final three deliveries, ensuring India would have enough time to squeeze in one more over before lunch. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant reminded Jadeja of the clock, and the all-rounder delivered quickly — buying just enough time for a bonus over.

According to the rules, a new over can begin if more than a minute remains in the session. India made it count.

Sundar took the ball for just his second over. Coming around the wicket, he angled in an arm ball that pinned Stokes on the pads. The England skipper reviewed, but the ball-tracker showed it was crashing into leg stump. Umpire Sharfuddoula’s decision stood. Stokes was gone for 48 — and India erupted.

It was a blow England didn’t recover from.

Earlier in the session, debutant Akash Deep continued to impress, removing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook with deliveries that seamed sharply in off the worn surface. Deep exploited the cracks on the final day to perfection, giving India crucial breakthroughs in Bumrah’s absence.

India’s dominance began much earlier. Shubman Gill’s twin centuries powered them to a massive total, while fifties from Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Jadeja helped stretch the lead beyond England’s reach. Mohammed Siraj had starred in the first innings with six wickets, while Akash Deep supported with four.

At lunch, with only four wickets standing between them and victory, India’s complete team performance had brought them to the brink of levelling the series. And that key moment — engineered by Jadeja and executed by Sundar — was a perfect example of how smart cricket can turn matches.