On a historic day for Indian sports, when they won a gold medal at the Olympics, Jasprit Bumrah kept Indian hopes alive on Day 4 at Trent Bridge. Joe Root did his bit to pose enough challenge for the Indians, but Bumrah rose to the challenge. If India can get the required 157 runs on the final day, he would end up scripting a special Indian win.
The day started with England on 25/0. There was forecast for storms, and there was rain, but the weather largely stayed clear enough, allowing the cricket to continue. Within the first six overs, Jasprit Bumrah accounted for Rory Burns (18) and Mohammed Siraj for Zak Crawley (6).
Root was positive from the onset, and hit four boundaries in his first 18 balls. He dominated the partnership with Dom Sibley, who was in the defensive mode throughout his innings. Sibley survived once, thanks to DRS, and India wasted a review against Root in the next over. Root soon reached his second fifty of the match.
England went to lunch with the score on 119/2, with a lead of 24. After resumption, Sibley became Bumrahâs second victim for 26, which came in more than three hours.
As with the first innings, Jonny Bairstow attacked from the onset. He scored 30 out of the 42 in the fourth-wicket partnership. Then Siraj bounced, and Bairstow hooked straight, flat to Ravindra Jadeja on the fence.
But Root stayed put. He added 34 with Dan Lawrence (25) and 25 with Jos Buttler (17), and eventually got his hundred. Both partnerships were broken by Shardul Thakur, on either side of tea.
Root went to tea on 96, and saw Buttler fall before reaching his first Test century at home since 2018. A brilliant straight drive took him to the three-figure mark. He celebrated the moment by raising both his hand and taking off his helmet.
Virat Kohli accepted the second new ball as soon as it was available. Bumrah got Root for 109 in the first over of his new spell, ensuring the Indians did not have to chase many. Bumrah then Sam Curran dropped off his bowling before getting the latter to play a false shot. Curran scored 32.
Stuart Broad got a brilliant yorker first ball and was bowled to give Bumrah his sixth five-wicket haul. James Anderson averted the hat-trick. Ollie Robinson was last out, off Mohammed Shami, as England were bowled out for 303. Bumrah finished with 5- 64 and nine wickets in the match.
India needed 209, but they first had to see off the last hour. K.L. Rahul and Rohit Sharma carefully left the balls outside off, while not missing out on scoring opportunities. Rahul, the more comfortable of the two, got a peach from Broad.
Cheteshwar Pujara had a few anxious moments, but some pressure was released when he cover-drove the last ball for four. Rohit also looked solid in approach, and England lost a review on him that came more from hope than conviction. Both batters are on 12.
India now require another 157, with nine wickets in hand. There is more work to be done against a strong England attack. It is important for them to play their shots. A promotion of Rishabh Pant in the batting order may be in the plan for tomorrow.
Both sides also need to keep the weather in mind: rains may play a part tomorrow.
Brief scores: England 183 (Joe Root 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-46) and 303 (Joe Root 109; Jasprit Bumrah 5-64) lead India 278 (K.L. Rahul 84; Ollie Robinson 5-85, James Anderson 4-54) and 52/1 (K.L. Rahul 26; Stuart Broad 1-18) by 156 runs.