LEEDS, England – Day three of the gripping first Test between India and England at Headingley delivered a rollercoaster of emotions, highlighting individual brilliance alongside frustrating lapses in the field. While India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah produced a sensational five-wicket haul, equaling a monumental record held by Kapil Dev, a flurry of dropped catches allowed England to minimize their first-innings deficit, leaving the match finely poised with two days remaining.
The day commenced with England resuming their first innings at 209/3, determined to eat into India’s formidable total of 471. The focus quickly shifted to England’s attacking right-hander, Harry Brook, who continued his aggressive yet assured approach. Brook’s innings was a testament to his talent, but also a stark reminder of India’s struggles in the field.
Having been bowled off a Jasprit Bumrah no-ball on Day 2 when he was yet to get off the mark, Brook received further reprieves on Day 3. He was dropped on 46 by Rishabh Pant off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling and, even more glaringly, Yashasvi Jaiswal grassed a relatively straightforward chance at slip when Brook was on 82 off Bumrah’s bowling.
These costly errors allowed Brook to press on, falling agonizingly short of a century at his home ground, dismissed for a well-made 99 to a pull shot off Prasidh Krishna. His valiant knock, which included 11 fours and 2 sixes from just 112 balls, was crucial in stabilizing England’s innings and frustrating the Indian bowlers.
Jasprit Bumrah Equals Kapil Dev’s Record
Despite the collective fielding woes, the beacon of consistency and wicket-taking prowess for India was undoubtedly Jasprit Bumrah. The world’s top-ranked Test bowler delivered a spellbinding performance, showcasing his relentless accuracy, sharp seam movement, and deceptive variations. Bumrah consistently troubled the English batsmen, eventually reaping the rewards with an outstanding five-wicket haul (5/83) in 24.4 overs. This marked his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, and more significantly, his 12th away from home.
This particular fifer propelled Bumrah into the illustrious company of Indian cricketing legend Kapil Dev, who also holds the record for 12 five-wicket hauls in away Test matches for India. What makes Bumrah’s achievement even more extraordinary is the pace at which he has reached this milestone. While Kapil Dev achieved his 12 away fifers in 66 Test matches, Bumrah has done so in a mere 34 Test appearances, underscoring his unparalleled efficiency and impact in challenging overseas conditions.
Furthermore, Bumrah’s heroics saw him become the first Asian bowler ever to take 150 Test wickets across the SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), surpassing the likes of Wasim Akram.
However, the shine on Bumrah’s personal achievement was somewhat dulled by India’s overall fielding display. In total, the Indian team dropped six catches in England’s first innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal accounting for three of them (Duckett on 10, Pope on 60, and Brook on 82), Rishabh Pant dropping one (Brook on 46), Ravindra Jadeja dropping one (Duckett again), and debutant Sai Sudharsan also grassing a half-chance off Jamie Smith.
These uncharacteristic lapses prevented India from building a more substantial first-innings lead and allowed England to reach a competitive total of 465, just six runs shy of India’s 471.
Scorecard Summary: England’s Resurgence and India’s Early Jitters
India 1st Innings: 471 all out (113 overs)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 101, Shubman Gill 147, Rishabh Pant 134
- Josh Tongue 4/86, Ben Stokes 3/56
England 1st Innings: 465 all out (100.4 overs)
- Ollie Pope 106, Harry Brook 99, Ben Duckett 62, Jamie Smith 40, Chris Woakes 38
- Jasprit Bumrah 5/83, Prasidh Krishna 3/128, Mohammed Siraj 2/122
India 2nd Innings: 90/2 (23.5 overs) – Stumps, Day 3
- KL Rahul 47* (75 balls, 7×4)
- Sai Sudharsan 30 (48 balls, 4×4)
- Brydon Carse 1/27, Ben Stokes 1/18
Fall of Wickets (India 2nd Innings): 1-16 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3.1 ov) 2-82 (Sai Sudharsan, 20.5 ov)
India lead by 96 runs.
Looking Ahead: A Pivotal Day 4 Awaits
The dropped catches notwithstanding, India managed to consolidate their position, albeit slowly, in their second innings. KL Rahul, showcasing his class and composure, looked in fine touch with an unbeaten 47. The partnership with debutant Sai Sudharsan, who contributed a valuable 30 before being dismissed by Ben Stokes, steadied the ship after an early setback.
As stumps were called due to bad light and rain, India finished the day at 90/2, extending their lead to 96 runs. With two full days of play remaining and the Headingley pitch still offering something for the bowlers, the match hangs delicately in the balance. India will need their remaining batsmen to build on this lead and set a challenging target, while England will be banking on their pace attack to exploit any cracks and run through the Indian lineup.
The stage is set for a thrilling Day 4, where every session, every partnership, and every wicket could prove decisive in determining the outcome of this engrossing Test match.