From Mohammed Siraj to Jasprit Bumrah: Five heroes of India’s famous Lord’s Test win against England

August 18, 2021

India were far from favourites when they headed into the final fifth day of the Lord’s Test against England. Resuming their innings from 181/6, India had their hopes pinned on Rishabh Pant. But the left-hander was the first to be dismissed on the fifth day as he walked back after scoring 22 off 46 balls before Ishant Sharma followed suit.
India were left reeling on 209/8 and looked unlikely to cross the 250-run mark. However, what unfolded at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground was a stupendous batting performance for India’s tail-enders who batted England out of the game. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami combined to put on a record unbeaten stand of 89 runs for the ninth wicket and propel the team’s total to 298.
With 272 to chase down in the final two sessions, England were no more playing to win but save the Test match. The pressure got the better of the hosts as a spirited bowling performance from India saw them bowl out Root and his men for a paltry 120 and register a famous come from behind win at Lord’s.
India claimed their only third Test win at Lord’s. Their last two wins at the iconic venue had come 28 years apart – under Kapil Dev, India had won by five wickets in 1986 before claiming a 95-run win under MS Dhoni in 2014. Here we take a look at five heroes of India’s famous win at Lord’s on Monday.

Jasprit Bumrah

Not often does Jasprit Bumrah’s batting becomes the talking point in a Test match. But Bumrah was for the challenge as he was welcomed with a hostile reception from the English pacers after coming out to bat at no.10 for his side. After facing some chin music, the Indian pacer settled down and produced one of his best knocks in Tests as he went on to notch up an unbeaten 34 to guide India to a match-winning total. Bumrah didn’t stop there and came back to claim three important wickets during England’s run-chase in the second innings and dismantled their batting line-up. He was one of the main architects of India’s famous win with a stellar all-round show.

Bumrah’s partner in crime with the bat was Mohammed Shami, who looked relentless out in the middle as he played some exquisite strokes during his stay and looked in sublime control. Shami notched up an unbeaten 56 off 70 balls to register his only second half-century in Tests. He later struck in his very first over during England’s second innings and removed opener Dominic Sibley on a duck to get India off to a perfect start. Shami finished the game with 56 runs and three wickets across the two innings.

Mohammed Siraj looked like a man on a mission on the final day of the Lord’s Test as he bowled some lung-bursting spells and kept the England batsmen at bay. After a four-wicket haul in England’s first innings, Siraj returned with another four-for as he ran through the England lower order. The pacer dismissed a well-settled Jos Buttler in the 52nd over before cleaning up James Anderson in the same over to bowl India to a memorable win on the final day. He finished the Test match with 8 wickets and was one of the major contenders for the Man of the Match award.