Mumbai: Day 2 of the third Test saw a subtle but crucial shift in momentum — one that left former cricketers questioning India’s on-field decision-making.
Speaking on Match Centre Live after the morning session, JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar offered a candid take on India’s disciplined bowling effort, especially highlighting Jasprit Bumrah’s perseverance on a pitch offering little assistance.
“This is what Bumrah is all about,” Manjrekar said. “It was a humbler Bumrah today — he accepted the conditions, understood there wasn’t much in the surface, and just kept coming in. No theatrics, no magic deliveries — just relentless line and length. The wickets were a reward for hard work. India kept England in check, and on a track like this, that’s no small feat.”
However, Manjrekar noted that the change of ball mid-session might have disrupted India’s rhythm at a critical juncture — just after they had dismissed Joe Root, one of England’s mainstays.
“I was watching Shubman [Gill] closely, and you could see the frustration in his body language. India had worked hard all morning, emotions were running high, and they really wanted to build on that breakthrough. It’s possible the ball change threw off their momentum. These things can have a psychological impact, especially when you’re trying to press home an advantage.”
Joining the conversation, JioStar expert and former England pacer Steve Harmison questioned the timing and logic behind the decision to hand over the ball for inspection — especially when Bumrah was clearly in rhythm.
“From a fast bowler’s perspective, I would never have given the umpire the ball at that point,” Harmison said. “Bumrah had taken three wickets in no time from the Nursery End — the ball was swinging, doing just enough. You only make that change when the old ball goes dead, not when it’s talking.”
Harmison also raised eyebrows over Mohammed Siraj’s role in the situation.
“What surprised me was that Siraj didn’t even talk to Bumrah — he just handed the ball to the umpire. That’s it — once you do that, you lose control. The replacement ball might not behave the same way — it could be newer, less worn, and that’s a real risk, especially when your lead pacer is on a roll.”
While India’s bowlers had done well up to that point, both experts agreed that small moments like these can tilt the balance in tight contests — especially on unresponsive tracks where every spell, every over, and every decision counts.
“We don’t yet know how this pitch will behave in the second innings,” Manjrekar added. “I’m curious to see how someone like Jofra Archer goes on it — that’ll give us more insight into what kind of surface this really is.”
For now, the ball change remains a talking point — a tactical decision that may have momentarily loosened India’s grip on the game. Whether it proves decisive or not, it certainly sparked a debate about judgment under pressure.
