Jasprit Bumrah may have walked away with a stellar five-wicket haul at Headingley, but what stood out more than his figures was the composure with which he handled the frustration of being repeatedly let down by his fielders. After Day 3 of the first Test against England, Bumrah reflected on three dropped catches off his bowling — including rare mistakes from Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal — with remarkable maturity.
Jasprit Bumrah’s outstanding 5/83 from 24.4 overs came in spite of four dropped catches off his bowling — Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook, all shelled by Yashasvi Jaiswal. He had also dismissed Brook for a nine-runs in the innings, but that breakthrough was overturned due to a no-ball.
“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,” Bumrah said in the post-day presser.
He also cited the cold conditions in Leeds as a possible factor, adding, “Sometimes the cold makes it difficult to catch. I try not to let it affect me and move forwards quickly.”
His words reflected not just leadership but also the temperament that defines his on-field excellence. Bumrah was once again India’s bowling lynchpin, finishing with 5/83 — his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests — and single-handedly kept India in the hunt as England mounted a spirited reply.
The pacer picked all three wickets that fell on Day 2, and returned on Day 3 to dismiss Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue in a decisive late burst.
While Bumrah was clinical, the rest of India’s bowling attack struggled with consistency. Prasidh Krishna took three wickets and Mohammed Siraj picked two, but both leaked runs and allowed England’s middle and lower order to flourish. Ollie Pope’s 106 and Harry Brook’s eventful 99 — aided by multiple reprieves — saw England reach 465, just six short of India’s 471.
The final wicket partnership added valuable runs, highlighting how India’s inability to wrap up the innings cleanly could cost them later in the match.
At stumps on Day 3, India were 90/2 in their second innings, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 47 and the visitors ahead by 96 runs. As the match heads into a crucial fourth day, Bumrah’s poise and performance remain India’s biggest positives — both on the field and in the dressing room.
