For any cricketer, a place on the Lord’s honours board is a dream-come-true moment. It’s a mark of distinction for the few who etch their names into history at the game’s most iconic venue. So when Jasprit Bumrah claimed his maiden five-wicket haul at Lord’s on Day 2 of the third Test, one expected a celebratory leap or the plane celebration he does. Instead, Bumrah quietly walked back to his mark, no fist pump, no drama.
That calmness, however, wasn’t because of exhaustion, as revealed by Bumrah himself. The great man just pointed and subtly hugged his teammates as if taking fifers at Lord’s is a day-to-day task for him. “I didn’t celebrate there because I was tired,” Bumrah admitted with a smile in the post-day press conference. “I’m not 21-22 anymore that I will jump around. I was happy to contribute, but I just wanted to go back and bowl the next ball.”
Jasprit Bumrah’s masterclass, yet again
Back in the playing XI after being rested for the second Test, Bumrah reminded everyone why he remains India’s spearhead across formats. His 5 for 74 helped India bowl England out for 387, with the morning session producing a classic burst of seam bowling. In the space of just seven balls, Bumrah removed Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Chris Woakes, reducing the hosts from 251/4 to 271/7.
This was Bumrah’s second consecutive five-wicket haul in the series and his 15th in Test cricket. He also surpassed Kapil Dev for most overseas fifers by an Indian bowler, another feather in his already illustrious cap. Root, who had batted beautifully for his 104, was undone by a delivery that jagged back and uprooted the middle stump. Ben Stokes faced a similar fortune with an unplayable delivery.
Asked about the criticism for missing the previous Test, Bumrah responded, “Sab paise kama rahe hai mere through, mujhe dua denge. Jab tak jersey pahni hai, people will continue to judge me. Sachin sir played 200 Tests, but he was also judged. (As long as I wear the Indian jersey, I’ll be judged. That’s how professional sport is. Even Sachin sir played 200 Tests and still got judged,” he said. “There are so many cameras. People are chasing views and subscribers. If they’re making money off my face, maybe they’ll give me blessings.)
At stumps, India were 145/3, still 242 runs behind, with KL Rahul (53*) and Rishabh Pant (19*) at the crease for the visitors.
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