Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance with the ball was on full display during the first Test against England at Leeds on June 22, 2025, but it was not enough to put India in a commanding position after the third day. Despite India's strong start with the bat, a batting collapse and some missed chances in the field allowed England to claw their way back into the game. Amidst the struggles of the other Indian bowlers, Bumrah stood tall, picking up a five-wicket haul and equaling a record held by the legendary Kapil Dev.
Bumrah's fifer in Leeds was his 12th in away Tests, drawing him level with Kapil Dev for the most by an Indian bowler. In addition, this was Bumrah's 10th five-wicket haul in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia (SENA) countries, making him the first-ever Indian to touch this figure. He also became the first Asian player to take 150 Test wickets in SENA countries, surpassing Pakistan great Wasim Akram. This remarkable achievement underscores Bumrah's status as a modern-day great and India's premier fast bowler across all conditions. After reaching the milestone, Bumrah looked towards the heavens, seemingly in gratitude.
On Day 3, Bumrah took the wickets of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to complete his five-wicket haul, helping India secure a slender six-run first-innings lead after bowling England out for 465. Bumrah ended with figures of 5/83 in 24.4 overs, bowling with pace, accuracy, and guile. While Bumrah was exceptional, the other Indian bowlers struggled to maintain consistency. Prasidh Krishna, playing in only his fourth Test, leaked runs with his one-dimensional short-ball approach, while Shardul Thakur was underbowled and proved ineffective. Mohammed Siraj, after an ineffective opening spell, found some rhythm later in the day but the supporting cast overall could not maintain sustained pressure.
India's over-reliance on Bumrah in the recent past has been a cause for concern. Since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, Bumrah has taken 35 wickets at an average of 13.31, while the other pacers have bagged 48 at an average of 40.29. The numbers highlight the disparity in performance and the need for the other bowlers to step up and support Bumrah.
Earlier in the match, India had a strong start with the bat, reaching 359/3 on Day 1, propelled by centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. Jaiswal scored a hundred on his maiden innings in England, becoming only the fifth Indian batter to achieve this feat. Gill, in his first match as Test captain, recorded his maiden century outside Asia. However, India's momentum was derailed on Day 2 as they lost 7 wickets for just 41 runs, finishing their first innings at 471. England capitalized on this collapse, with Ollie Pope scoring a century and building a strong platform for their innings.
India's fielding also let them down, with dropped catches proving costly. Harry Brook was dropped twice off Bumrah's bowling, and he went on to score 99. These missed opportunities allowed England to stay in the game and eventually take a narrow lead. The match is finely poised heading into the later stages, and India will need their batsmen to fire and their bowlers to support Bumrah if they are to secure a victory.
