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India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah finally reacts after 3 crucial catches were dropped off his bowling in a single match. The star fast bowler expresses deep disappointment as missed chances cost India dearly
Jasprit Bumrah once again proved why he’s the heartbeat of India’s bowling attack, delivering a sublime five-wicket haul to keep the visitors marginally ahead in the first Test against England at Headingley. But while his figures in the scorebook read 5/83, they barely convey the level of frustration the Indian spearhead had to endure, with three dropped catches off his bowling in what was a forgettable outing for the slip cordon.
Despite being let down repeatedly by his fielders, including a spill from an otherwise reliable Ravindra Jadeja and two drops from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bumrah chose grace over frustration. Speaking to the BBC after the day’s play, the pacer said, “I am disappointed for a second when catches are dropped. It’s a part and parcel of the game, and the guys are new and working so hard. I don’t want to create a scene and put more pressure on them. Nobody is doing it intentionally, so they will learn from this experience.”
He acknowledged the challenging conditions at Headingley and added, “Sometimes the cold makes it difficult to catch. I try not to let it affect me and move forwards quickly.”
Bumrah was India’s lone warrior with the ball on Day 2 when he picked all three wickets that fell on the day. He received significantly better support on Day 3, with Prasidh Krishna taking three wickets while Mohammed Siraj clinched two. However, both bowlers leaked runs owing to inconsistent lines and lengths, meaning England managed to close the gap with India in the first innings.
India had posted 471 in the first innings, but England, riding on Ollie Pope’s 106 and Harry Brook’s valiant 99, managed to claw back with 465. Brook was dropped thrice and capitalised each time before he holed out trying to reach his century with flair. Bumrah, brought back for a late burst after England’s tail had begun to wag, took matters into his own hands.
He uprooted Woakes’ stumps and then sent back Josh Tongue to wrap things up, picking his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests.
His performance stood in stark contrast to India’s other pacers, who lacked consistency and control for long spells. The lower order conceded 112 runs, a damaging passage, especially when compared to India’s own collapse, where the final five wickets fell for just 18.
At stumps on Day 3, India reached 90/2 in their second innings, leading by 96 runs. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 47, while Shubman Gill was at the crease with him.
The incident occurred during India’s high-stakes clash in the ongoing international series, where Bumrah was in full rhythm, delivering sharp spells that tested even the best of batters. However, despite beating the bat and creating numerous opportunities, three regulation catches were put down by Indian fielders, denying him crucial breakthroughs.
The drops came at critical junctures of the match:
- First Drop: A straightforward chance at slip in the second over of Bumrah’s spell
- Second Drop: A miscued shot lofted to mid-off that was spilled by a substitute fielder
- Third Drop: A sharp but manageable catch at point, where the fielder failed to react quickly
These missed opportunities allowed the opposition to build partnerships, shift momentum, and eventually put up a challenging total, leaving the Indian team on the back foot.
“Look, I am disappointed. I work hard to create chances, and it’s always frustrating when they don’t get converted. At the end of the day, we win and lose as a team, but yes, I expect better support on the field.”
Jasprit Bumrah emphasized the team-first philosophy but subtly highlighted the lack of execution in the field:
“It’s not about blaming anyone. Fielding is a tough job, and I understand mistakes happen. But in international cricket, we need to grab every opportunity – especially when you’re bowling your heart out.”
Cricket fans across social media platforms quickly picked up on Bumrah’s rare expression of emotion, with #JusticeForBumrah trending on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the press conference.
A fan wrote:
“Bumrah doesn’t ask for much. Just catch the ball when he gives you 3 golden opportunities. Painful to see his spells go unrewarded.”
Another said:
“This guy is the best fast bowler in the world, but our fielders are treating his efforts like warm-up sessions.”
Others posted memes comparing the dropped catches to iconic fielding blunders in cricket history, poking fun but also expressing concern over India’s recurring fielding lapses.
Several former Indian cricketers voiced their opinion on the matter during post-match analysis shows.
Irfan Pathan commented:
“You don’t often see Bumrah upset. If he’s expressing disappointment, it means things were seriously wrong today. The team needs to reflect.”
Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary batsman, was more scathing:
“Catches win matches. You drop three off your best bowler, you’re inviting trouble. These things come back to haunt you – especially in knockout scenarios.”
Had the three chances been taken, Bumrah could’ve finished with figures of 4/25 instead of 1/53, potentially altering the outcome of the match. According to CricViz, the expected wicket percentage for each dropped catch was over 85%, meaning these weren’t half-chances—they were golden opportunities.
The match result? India lost by 32 runs—a margin that might have been easily erased had Bumrah’s early breakthroughs been capitalized upon.
This isn’t the first time fielding has let India down. In several key matches across formats, especially during pressure situations, Indian fielders have faltered – even some of the most experienced campaigners.
Bumrah, whose workload is already immense as both a new-ball enforcer and a death-overs specialist, now finds himself doing the hard work without adequate support.
An anonymous BCCI official reportedly told a sports portal:
“Bumrah has been very professional about it, but the team management is aware that fielding standards need urgent improvement. No one wants a repeat of today.”
Over the last decade, Bumrah has evolved into one of the finest fast bowlers in the world across all formats. With an average of 21.5 in Tests and under 25 in ODIs and T20Is, his ability to break partnerships and execute yorkers at will has been unmatched.
His calmness under pressure has been a hallmark trait, making his recent remarks all the more notable. A player who rarely shows emotion is now voicing his concerns—a possible wake-up call for Indian cricket’s fielding unit.
As India prepares for the next match in the series, all eyes will be on how the fielding unit responds. Will players like Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, and Surya Kumar Yadav—who were among those involved in dropped chances—step up and redeem themselves?
The coaching staff, led by Rahul Dravid, is expected to hold intensive fielding drills before the next match. Given the World Cup and major ICC tournaments looming on the horizon, the timing of this fielding dip could not be worse.
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