London — Former India captain and JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble has heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj for his fiery bowling spell on Day 4 of the third Test between India and England at Lord’s. Speaking during the lunchtime analysis on ‘Match Centre Live’, Kumble highlighted the significance of India’s bowling intensity in a session that shifted momentum their way.
“Test cricket is about knowing when to turn up the heat,” Kumble said. “With the scores level, the match had essentially become a one-innings shootout. India needed to strike early, and they did exactly that by picking up four key wickets in the first session. The surface was playing tricks — there was uneven bounce, and both Crawley and Duckett struggled. Siraj was outstanding, backing up Bumrah’s early pressure with an aggressive and accurate spell.”
One of the key moments came with the dismissal of Ollie Pope, aided by a successful DRS call. “That was a smart review,” Kumble noted. “Siraj’s height played a role — and while Crawley had survived a similar appeal earlier, this one went India’s way. Crawley’s wicket too was a bonus, really — trying to drive on the rise on this surface was always a risky move.”
Siraj’s energy and focus stood out, especially in tandem with Bumrah’s controlled menace. “What I love about Siraj is his effort — he gives 100% with every ball,” Kumble added. “He knows how to hit the deck hard and target the right channels. In the previous Test without Bumrah, Siraj led the attack with a five-wicket haul. This time, with Bumrah back, he knew his role and executed it perfectly. He was constantly in the batter’s face, bringing edge and intent. That aggression is part of his DNA, and it lifts the entire team.”
Echoing Kumble’s assessment, JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott offered a critique of England’s batting mindset. “I don’t think England are quite sure where they stand at this stage,” said Trott. “They’ll want to see how the pitch behaves once the ball gets older. But they’ll also know they threw away a few wickets. Three of the dismissals came from poor shot selection — loose strokes to balls that didn’t deserve attacking shots. On a pitch like this, discipline is key.”
With India tightening their grip on the Test and Siraj once again proving his worth in a high-pressure setting, the match heads into a decisive phase. For now, India’s bowling duo of Bumrah and Siraj look set to script another chapter in what has been a thrilling Test series.
