NEW DELHI: Just when the momentum seemed to be shifting in India’s favour, captain Shubman Gill once again turned to his senior pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, in search of a breakthrough. And Bumrah, as always, delivered — or almost did.He induced a thick edge off the dangerous Harry Brook, only for the catch to be spilled by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully. It was a moment that could have turned the game, and Bumrah’s reaction said it all — hands over his eyes, soaking in the disappointment, he quietly walked back to his fielding position.Gill, stationed at second slip, looked visibly frustrated. The camera soon cut to Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who wore a similar expression of disbelief and annoyance.Pant, ever the spirited teammate, rushed all the way from behind the stumps to fine leg to console Bumrah, who had by then thrown his head back in visible exasperation.This was the fourth catch dropped off Bumrah’s bowling in the innings — three by Jaiswal and one by Ravindra Jadeja — equaling the joint-most dropped catches off a single Indian bowler in an innings, as per available database records. Jaiswal’s three missed chances also tie him for the most by an Indian fielder in a Test innings.Despite the missed opportunities, Bumrah’s class remains unquestioned. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri had nothing but high praise for the speedster, calling him the best fast bowler India has ever produced.“I thought Malcolm Marshall was the best I saw in reading a batter and setting him up but this guy is not far behind. Where I have seen Bumrah improve is getting swing with the new ball. When he is swinging the new ball it becomes hard for any batter in the world to counter him, what with the action and the late release,” Shastri said during a chat with Sky Sports ahead of Day 3.Assessing India’s position in the match, Shastri added:
“I think India will be disappointed that they didn’t add another 75 or 80 runs but towards the end of day two, getting Root out, has evened things.”“I think they still have the upper hand. They have the runs on the board and you know what Bumrah can do. He can crack this game open in the first hour or so. If he can get a couple of wickets, India will think they can get a lead,” he concluded.
