Jasprit Bumrah etched his name onto the Lord’s honours board with a masterful five-wicket haul on Day 2 of the third Test against England, but his subdued celebration was as talked about as his match-defining performance.
Bumrah’s 5/74 helped India bowl out England for 387 shortly after lunch, a turnaround led by his fiery morning burst. The pacer accounted for key wickets—Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Chris Woakes—within a span of overs that saw England slump from 251/4 to 271/7, shifting momentum firmly in India’s favour.
The five-wicket haul was Bumrah’s 15th in Test cricket, and it broke Kapil Dev’s record for the most overseas five-fors by an Indian bowler. It also marked his first-ever inscription on the Lord’s honours board, a landmark achievement for any cricketer.
However, when he completed his five-for by dismissing Jofra Archer, there was no exuberance—no raised arms, no smile. Addressing the muted reaction, Bumrah clarified during the post-match press conference that fatigue, not frustration, was the reason.
“The reality is that I was tired. There was no happiness factor missing. I bowled for a long time, and sometimes I get tired,” Bumrah said with a smile.
“I’m not 21-22 anymore that I’ll jump around. I was happy I contributed—other than that, I just wanted to get back to my mark and bowl the next ball.”
Despite his understated celebration, Bumrah’s brilliance was undeniable. His dismissal of Joe Root, for the 11th time in Test cricket, was the standout—an incisive delivery that nipped back sharply and uprooted the middle stump.
The performance reaffirms why Bumrah is India’s most potent pace weapon, capable of delivering across conditions. He had been rested for the previous match in Edgbaston under workload management but returned in peak form, producing a second consecutive five-for following his haul in Leeds.
India Finish Day 2 at 145/3
In response to England’s 387, India ended Day 2 at 145/3.
KL Rahul led the charge with a fluent, unbeaten 53, while Rishabh Pant showed grit, scoring 19 despite a finger injury*. Karun Nair added a well-made 40 before a sharp one-handed catch by Joe Root ended his stay.
England’s returning pacer Jofra Archer struck early, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) in the very first over. Shubman Gill, who had scored centuries in both innings at Edgbaston, failed to capitalize this time, dismissed for just 16.
As the match heads into Day 3, India will aim to build a strong total and push for a commanding position in this crucial Test.
