India’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja added a bit of humour to a tense day of Test cricket at Edgbaston during the fourth day of the ongoing India vs England match. Known for his lively presence on the field, Jadeja was caught on camera having a fun exchange with on-field umpire Chris Gaffaney.
As the New Zealand umpire bent down to adjust the bails, Jadeja walked up to him and said something that made them both laugh. In a playful gesture, Jadeja gently poked Gaffaney, and both could be seen smiling. Their light-hearted chat brought a brief moment of joy in the otherwise intense game.
Stump microphones picked up Jadeja saying, “Huh! I’m cheating?” Though the exact context wasn’t clear, it was obvious that he said it jokingly. Gaffaney appeared to be in on the fun too.
Jadeja tickling the umpire 😭pic.twitter.com/49FtL2ABys
— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) July 5, 2025
Jadeja and Gaffaney Share Another Fun Memory
This isn’t the first time Jadeja and Gaffaney shared a humorous moment in the series. During the Headingley Test earlier, India had requested a ball change when the old one went out of shape. Once the umpires agreed, Jadeja walked over to Gaffaney to celebrate the decision with a smile, which the umpire returned in good spirit.
India Gains Upper Hand After Early Wickets
The fun moment between Jadeja and Gaffaney happened just after Akash Deep bowled out Ben Duckett, leaving England struggling at 30/2 in their fourth innings. This early breakthrough gave India a solid advantage as they aim to level the series.
Jadeja Responds to Stokes’ Accusations
Besides light-hearted moments, Jadeja was also at the centre of a minor controversy earlier in the match. England captain Ben Stokes accused him of running on the pitch’s danger area while batting—something that can damage the surface for bowlers. Stokes took the issue to the umpires multiple times.
Jadeja addressed the issue after play. He said, “He feels that I am making it rough for myself. In fact, he was making it rougher by using fast bowlers. I didn’t have to make it rough.” He also added, “He was repeatedly telling the umpire that I was running on the wicket. But that was not my intention. I ran here and there a few times. But that was in his mind.”
Final Day Set for a Thrilling Finish
As the match moves into day five, India finds itself in a strong position. England is chasing a massive target of 608 and is already three wickets down for just 72 runs. Although England has shown resilience before, India will aim to stay sharp and finish the job to level the series in Birmingham.
