London, July 11, 2025 – Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spell, highlighted by a five-wicket haul, helped India seize control of the third Test against England at Lord’s. At the close of play on Day 2, India stood strong at 145 for 3, trailing England’s first-innings total of 387.
The day began with England’s Joe Root reaching his century off the first ball of the morning, having been stranded overnight on 99. However, his joy was short-lived as Bumrah struck soon after, sparking a top-order collapse. Bumrah’s pace and precision were too much for England’s middle order, as he removed three key batsmen in a single fiery burst, reducing the hosts to 271 for 7.
Though England’s lower order put up a fight—with Jamie Smith notching a half-century after being dropped on 5, and Brydon Carse registering his maiden Test fifty—Bumrah returned to wrap up the tail. His efforts earned him a maiden five-wicket haul at Lord’s, a landmark moment in his career, and helped dismiss England for 387 just before lunch.
India’s reply began cautiously. Shubman Gill and Karun Nair made starts, but couldn’t convert them into significant scores. Chris Woakes found his rhythm after a rusty opening spell, while a tactical masterstroke—bringing Jamie Smith up to the stumps for Rohit Sharma—paid dividends for England.
Rishabh Pant, batting with an injured index finger, showed grit and flair, finding boundaries against Shoaib Bashir despite visible discomfort. At the other end, KL Rahul anchored the innings with poise, echoing memories of his Lord’s century in 2021. Rahul and Pant ensured India didn’t suffer any late damage, guiding them safely to stumps.
Earlier in the day, tensions flared when Indian fielders expressed frustration over a seemingly underwhelming replacement ball. Emotions ran high, but the side rallied, thanks to Bumrah’s lethal accuracy and reverse swing, which kept the game alive for India.
As Day 3 approaches, both sides remain deeply invested. England will rely on early morning conditions to claw back momentum, while India will hope KL Rahul and the middle order can build on Bumrah’s foundation. With the index delicately poised, Saturday promises another thrilling chapter in this engrossing Test.