Jasprit Bumrah once again demonstrated why he is the heartbeat of India's bowling attack with an incredible five-wicket haul that kept the visitors just ahead in the first Test against England at Headingley. Four dropped catches off his bowling in a forgettable performance for the slip cordon, however, hardly reflect the misery the Indian spearhead had to face, even though his bowling stats read 5/83.
Bumrah remained composed in the face of constant disappointment from his fielders, including two drops from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a spill from the normally dependable Ravindra Jadeja. Following the close of play on Day 3, the pacer told BBC Sport: “I am disappointed for a second when catches are dropped. It’s a part and parcel of the game, and the guys are new and working so hard. I don’t want to create a scene and put more pressure on them. Nobody is doing it intentionally, so they will learn from this experience.”
Acknowledging the difficult conditions at Headingley, Bumrah added: “Sometimes the cold makes it difficult to catch. I try not to let it affect me and move forward quickly.”
Taking all three wickets that fell on Day 2, Bumrah was India's lone warrior. With Mohammed Siraj securing two wickets and Prasidh Krishna capturing three on Day 3, he finally found some assist from his seam bowling partners. But the lines and lengths were erratic and it allowed runs to slip as England finished at 465/10 in response to India's 471/10.
Meanwhile, this was Bumrah's 14th five-wicket haul in Test. His performance was a sharp contrast to that of India's other pacers, who struggled with control and consistency over extended periods of time. The England lower order scored 112 runs, which was disastrous, especially considering India's own collapse, in which the last five wickets were taken for just 18.
India led by 96 runs at stumps on Day 3 after reaching 90/2 in their second innings. Shubman Gill was at the crease alongside KL Rahul, who was undefeated at 47.
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