Jasprit Bumrah once again stood tall for India in the first Test against England at Leeds by grabbing a remarkable five-wicket haul despite a handful of dropped chances off his bowling. Bumrah finished with figures of 5 for 83 in 24.4 overs, showcasing his consistency even as fielding errors cost him potential extra wickets. During the post-match press conference, Bumrah addressed the missed opportunities, saying he chooses not to dwell on them during a game. “It is disappointing for a moment, but you cannot sit and cry about it. You have to move on quickly. I try not to overthink it and let it go. Many of these guys are new to this level and the conditions make it tough to spot the ball sometimes. No one drops catches on purpose and they will improve. I do not want to create unnecessary pressure by reacting badly or showing anger,” Bumrah explained. Despite three crucial dropped catches by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bumrah’s persistence earned him his tenth five-wicket haul in SENA countries, making him the first Indian to reach this milestone. He now sits just behind Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, who has 11 such hauls in these challenging overseas venues. Bumrah has also equalled Kapil Dev’s record of 12 five-wicket hauls in away Tests overall.
When asked about his decision not to take up the Indian Test captaincy, Bumrah revealed that managing his fitness was his top priority. “It was not a big issue about captaincy. I wanted to focus on my body and spoke to my medical team. I do not want to let the team down by missing matches as a captain. There needs to be continuity in leadership and I felt it was better for me to contribute just as a player whenever I am fit. Nothing matters more than Indian cricket and winning games,” Bumrah shared. Bumrah also spoke about the Headingley pitch and England’s batting, saying the surface remains good for batting with only slight variable pace and expected swing. He believes India must build a big second-innings total to create a safety cushion for the bowlers.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? Commenting on Harry Brook’s dismissal for 99 in England’s first innings, Bumrah praised the English batter’s approach. “It was just fate that he got out on 99. He is a smart player. He understands conditions well and keeps the bowler guessing. He can switch from aggressive to defensive play effectively. Next time, we will try to counter him better,” he said. At the end of a rain-affected Day 3, India held a slender advantage with a lead of 96 runs. The visitors finished at 90 for 2 with KL Rahul unbeaten on 47 and captain Shubman Gill at the crease on six. With the match finely balanced, both teams will look to seize the initiative as the Test heads into its final stages at Headingley.
