India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja dismissed England captain Ben Stokes’ accusations of tampering with the pitch as mere mind games, following a heated exchange on Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston. The altercation unfolded after England’s Chris Woakes complained to the umpires that Jadeja was allegedly stepping onto the pitch’s danger area, leaving visible marks. Stokes pointed out the scuff marks to Jadeja, saying, “Look what you have done, mate.”

Jadeja defended his actions after play, stating, “But I was coming from here. I won’t bowl there anyway. Why would I do that? My focus is on batting.”

Addressing the tension with Stokes, Jadeja elaborated: “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 kept telling the umpire 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.”Jadeja played a crucial role in India’s dominant total of 587, scoring 89 off 137 balls in a 203-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who slammed a record-breaking 269. Jadeja’s innings ended when he gloved a short ball from Josh Tongue to the keeper, narrowly missing out on a century.India’s commanding position was further solidified by reducing England to 77 for 3 by stumps, setting the stage for a strong Day 3.