Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant five-wicket haul and KL Rahul’s calm, unbeaten 47 ensured India stayed in control against England at the end of Day 3 of the first Test at Headingley. After bowling out England for 465 in the morning session and taking a slender six-run first innings lead, India reached 90/2 at stumps, extending their overall lead to 96 runs.
In their second outing with the bat, India faced an early setback when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for just 4. However, KL Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan steadied the innings with a composed 66-run stand. Sudharsan looked confident in his approach before being dismissed for 37, leaving Rahul to guide India to the close of play alongside Shubman Gill (1*).
With a lead nearing triple figures and two well-set batters at the crease, India will aim to push for a commanding total on Day 4. The pitch still offers assistance to batters, but with cracks beginning to widen, spinners and reverse swing could come into play in the final innings. For now, it’s advantage India — thanks to Bumrah’s brilliance and Rahul’s grit.
Earlier, Bumrah once again rose to the occasion, delivering a fiery five-wicket haul on Day 3 of the first Test against England at Headingley, as the hosts were bowled out for 465 in response to India’s 471. With this performance, Bumrah not only tilted the balance slightly in India’s favor in a high-scoring contest but also scripted a unique record in the annals of cricket history.
Bumrah’s 5/83 in 24.4 overs was a display of both control and aggression, marking his 10th five-wicket haul in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations — the most by any Indian bowler and the first by an Asian to reach 150 Test wickets across these challenging conditions.
The English innings, which resumed at 327/5, saw Harry Brook lead the charge with an aggressive 99 off 112 balls, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. Contributions from Jamie Smith (40), Chris Woakes (38), and Brydon Carse (22) added valuable runs, helping England nearly match India’s first-innings total.
Earlier, Ollie Pope (106) and Ben Duckett (62) set the foundation for England’s resistance on Day 2. Despite a strong position at 430/4, a middle and lower-order collapse—triggered by Bumrah and supported by Prasidh Krishna (3/128)—ensured England couldn’t take a lead.
India’s first innings total of 471 was built on stellar centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), skipper Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134). England had won the toss and opted to bowl, and while they managed a late resurgence with the ball—thanks to Ben Stokes (4/66) and Josh Tongue (4/86)—India still put up a formidable score.
