It is every cricketer's dream to get his name inscribed on that historic honours board of Lord's. The same Lord's, where every step on the field seems to be a part of history. This time, another Indian name was added to that board-Jasprit Bumrah. On the second day of the third Test, Bumrah took five wickets against England and achieved his first 'five-for' at Lord's. But the interesting thing was that he did not celebrate as soon as he touched this milestone. Neither did he celebrate normally, nor was there any big celebration. He just kept returning to the run-up with a calm walk.
This pause shows the confidence within him. Bumrah himself admitted that the reason behind not celebrating was fatigue. He smiled and said in the post-day press conference, “I didn’t celebrate there because I was tired. I’m not 21-22 anymore that I will jump around. I was happy to contribute, but I just wanted to go back and bowl the next ball.”
This is the difference that makes Bumrah different from other bowlers. His simplicity on the field is as eye-catching as his bowling. This was Bumrah's second consecutive five-wicket haul in this series. Earlier, he rested in the second Test at Edgbaston. As soon as he returned, England realized his importance again. In the second morning session, he dismissed Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes in just seven balls. From 251/4, England stumbled at 271/7. It is not an ordinary task to dismiss a batsman like Root by blowing off the middle stump. Only Bumrah can do that, who creates such sharpness in his line length that even big names cannot stand.
If we talk about statistics, now Bumrah's name has also been recorded for taking the most fifers abroad. He left Kapil Dev behind. This is the same Kapil Dev whose bowling skills are still considered an example by people. The success of Bumrah shows that Indian cricket has such a bowler who can change the course of the match in every condition.
After the match, when he was asked about the criticism for not playing in the second Test, his answer was equally composed. He said, “Sab paise kama rahe hai mere through, mujhe dua denge. Jab tak jersey pahni hai, people will continue to judge me. Sachin sir played 200 Tests, but he was also judged. (As long as I wear the Indian jersey, I’ll be judged. That’s how professional sport is. Even Sachin sir played 200 Tests and still got judged,” he said. “There are so many cameras. People are chasing views and subscribers. If they’re making money off my face, maybe they’ll give me blessings.)
His solid mindset is reflected in this one sentence. Amidst the crowd of cameras, the noise of social media and clickbait headlines, Bumrah does not deviate from his line. He knows that in this profession, one has to prove oneself every day.
India were at 145/3 till stumps, and are still 242 runs behind. However, this magical spell of Bumrah has laid a very strong foundation to turn this Test in India's favor. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were at the crease; now India's hopes rest on them. But the biggest news of this Test was Jasprit Bumrah. For him, Lord's is no longer just a ground, but has become a symbol of confidence where Indian fast bowlers have created a new identity.
Bumrah's bowling shows what a combination of technique and patience can do. It's not just about taking wickets, it's about defeating the opposition on their own turf. His name will always be remembered on that board at Lord's. It's not just a record, it's a belief that India has a bowler who can prove himself even on the biggest stage, without any noise, just with the sharpness of his deliveries.
