In a team game, individuals can't be solely blamed, says Jadeja

"The upcoming batters will need to form strong partnerships and surpass the score of 230 before the second innings can come into play. It is crucial for the players waiting to bat to make meaningful contributions. Despite the current situation, there is still hope for the Indian team to emerge victorious in this Test match."

“We still have a chance. It is not the case that we are out of the match. Hopefully, we would bat well tomorrow and given that there is something happening on the wicket, if we also bowl well, then it will be good,” he added.

With India suffering yet another collapse, Jadeja thwarted the notion that repetitive failure of specialist batters is putting a lot of pressure on the lower order.

“Pressure is always there. It is not that when the top-order does not perform, the pressure is always there on the lower order. When the top-order does perform, even then there is pressure on the lower-order as to why they are not doing it?” he replied. Jaiswal was cleaned up while attempting a reverse slog sweep off Ajaz Patel, who then trapped nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj leg-before off the very next delivery. In at No 5, Kohli attempted a risky single only to be run out as India endured yet another poor passage of play to cede advantage to the Kiwis.

Jadeja acknowledged India’s poor returns in first innings across the three Tests against New Zealand has been a key reason for their decline.

“Sometimes, when you are down 0-2, it takes time for you to do anything, or even to bounce back. We have not done enough in the first innings from the first Test and have been behind in the game," he said.

“Even in Pune, we did not bat well and repeated the same mistakes and have been lagging behind.”

Jadeja said losing a Test series at home was something he never thought would happen as long as he was playing, adding that the Indian team has set the expectations really high.

“Firstly, I had this fear… personally I had thought that I won’t lose a series in India as long as I am playing. But that too has happened,” he said.

“We won 18 series , I thought as long as I am playing Test cricket in India we won’t lose a series but that has happened, so I am not surprised with anything .”

He continued, “We have set the expectations really high. Since last 12 years we did not lose a single series. I think we have lost a total of five Test matches in which I played.”

“I think this is a good achievement but when you set such high expectations and lose a series, it stands out and that is what is happening.”

The veteran all-rounder conceded Indian players will have to collectively shoulder the responsibility of series loss to New Zealand.

“When we win, we lift the trophy together. Now that we have lost the series, all 15 in the team will take the blame collectively,” he said.

After the defeat in Pune where Indian spinners were collectively outplayed by their Kiwi counterparts, skipper Rohit had backed the pair of Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin saying the venerable pair too is allowed a failure given their stellar run in home Tests.

Jadeja welcomed Rohit’s backing and said, “It is good that the captain’s trust is there, he knows what we have done for the team in last 12 years — be it with our batting or bowling.”

“We have performed for the team, tried to take team out of difficult situations, but sometimes it happens,” he added.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.