New Delhi — Reflecting on the dramatic final day of the third Test at Lord’s, cricket expert and former India international Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the unlikely hero in India’s ninth-wicket resistance. Speaking on ‘Follow The Blues’ on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, Manjrekar delved deep into the match’s pivotal moments, highlighting Bumrah’s mental toughness and Ravindra Jadeja’s steely composure at the crease.
“Ravindra Jadeja was playing with immense patience, relying on his defence. But it never seemed like he was going for the win,” Manjrekar remarked. “In contrast, Bumrah’s effort stood out. He faced bouncers and top-tier pace bowling for over an hour and a half. His ability to survive under such pressure shows just how much his batting has evolved. That grit we often associate with his bowling was visible in his batting too—and that’s rare.”
Manjrekar also praised Jadeja’s composed innings across both innings. “He has matured as a batter. The 70 in the first innings was not a stroke-filled knock—it was about application and stamina. On that pitch, every run had to be earned. But the atmosphere in the Lord’s balcony, even when Jadeja reached his half-century, told a different story. The energy wasn’t optimistic, and it seemed the team knew the chase was slipping away.”
On Bumrah’s all-round contribution, Manjrekar highlighted how the pacer adapted his game based on the conditions. “He was magnificent. The pitch wasn’t doing much, but he waited for the right moments and delivered. His five-wicket haul in the first innings was critical. Later, when England needed to be finished off quickly, Bumrah returned with impact. That yorker to dismiss Brydon Carse was world-class. These are signs of a bowler at the top of his game—always ready, always effective.”
The analysis also touched on KL Rahul’s consistent performance throughout the series. “Watching Rahul grow has been the biggest personal satisfaction for me,” Manjrekar admitted. “His technique always had class, but he lacked consistency. Now, after 50-plus Tests, he has resolved those issues. For the first time in an overseas series, he’s crossed 200 runs. It’s been a long journey, but Rahul has finally come into his own.”
Addressing the factors behind India’s loss, Manjrekar emphasized that small margins made the big difference. “India didn’t commit glaring mistakes. But it was the minor missteps—like Rishabh Pant’s run-out—that proved costly. Ben Stokes noticed a slight hesitation and capitalised. That’s the brilliance of a world-class cricketer. Pant might have been trying to get KL back on strike to complete his hundred, but in Tests, these tiny moments can decide outcomes.”
Despite the defeat, Manjrekar’s assessment carried admiration for the fight shown. “This wasn’t a collapse; it was a hard-fought Test where the team fell short due to the brilliance of individuals like Stokes and the mounting pressure of the fifth day.”
The third Test might have ended in disappointment for India, but it offered a showcase of resilience, emerging leadership, and standout performances—most notably from an unexpected source: Jasprit Bumrah.
