Jasprit Bumrah returned to the XI with a clear goal in mind. A five-for at Lord’s. He got it.
India’s premier fast bowler claimed 5 for 74 to bowl England out for 387 on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match. His performance stood out in a day that offered pace, drama, and brief moments of control. By stumps, India reached 145 for 3, trailing by 242 runs, with KL Rahul holding firm on 53 not out.
This match was Bumrah’s return after being rested at Edgbaston. There was talk of saving him for the Lord’s honours board, and it seems that’s exactly what happened. He did most of his damage through sharp movement both in the air and off the pitch. Four of his victims were bowled. England couldn’t handle it.
KL Rahul’s innings was the other standout. At 113 balls for 53 runs, it wasn’t flashy, but it was focused. He left well, judged the off-stump line, and found ways to score when England pitched it straighter. He was tested by Jofra Archer with a 142 kph bouncer, lost balance, but managed to control the shot. The next over, Ben Stokes tried drawing him wide. Rahul didn’t bite. That kind of alertness kept India in the game.
Earlier in the day, Joe Root picked up where he left off on 99 overnight. One ball into the morning, he reached his 37th Test hundred. That puts him ahead of Rahul Dravid and Steven Smith on the all-time list. He also took a sharp diving catch later to record his 211th in Tests, a record for England.
The occasion was marked by Red for Ruth Day, a charity tribute to Andrew Strauss’ late wife. Lord’s was packed. The pitch seemed to respond to the energy. It got quicker. Seamers liked it.
England lost wickets in clusters. Stokes got bowled just after a boundary. Root followed, misjudging Bumrah’s seam movement. Jamie Smith had earlier helped England from 271 for 7 to 355, but Mohammed Siraj got him after lunch. He held up a “20” with his fingers, a tribute to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who recently died in a car crash.
England weren’t done. Brydon Carse added an entertaining 52, his first Test half-century, after flicking Bumrah and slashing Akash Deep. Jamie Smith, who had been dropped early by Rahul, stayed composed and compiled runs while India focused on the wrong end.
India’s openers didn’t last long. Yashasvi Jaiswal was undone by Archer’s raw pace. Shubman Gill, heavily targeted with bouncers, tried to break free and failed. Karun Nair fell just short of a half-century. His shot selection was solid until he wasn’t.
Rishabh Pant came in with injury concerns and batted through them. The runs weren’t free-flowing, but he stayed there with Rahul.
There were also frustrations. India had issues with the second new ball. It was changed just 10 overs into use. Gill spent the drinks break in talks with the umpires about its condition. The replacement didn’t last long either. It too had to be swapped out.
In between, England pressed hard. Chris Woakes, with the keeper standing up, coaxed an edge from Gill. That kind of tactical variation kept India from building steady momentum.
By day’s end, the talking points were many. Bumrah’s five. Archer’s return. Rahul’s calm. Root’s milestone. And the sense that this match is very much alive.
Only 72.3 overs were bowled. But they had weight. Every run, every wicket, every glance to the scoreboard carried meaning. India still has work to do. The lead is large. But they have a man at the crease who isn’t going away easily.
