Bumrah Benefits Massively When There's Support At Other End, Says Trott

Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar analysed India’s challenges on Day 3 and reflected on Shubman Gill’s leadership under testing conditions:

“Shubman Gill is on his first trip to England as a batter and has also been thrown into the deep end as captain — carrying immense responsibility. He fought well across the first three Tests, but this game feels slightly beyond India, considering the challenges and resources. India’s bowling was hampered by Akash Deep’s unavailability — he picked up 10 wickets in the last Test but missed out due to injury. Anshul Kamboj came in, but struggled to rise to the demands of Test cricket. One area India could’ve improved is their bowling combination — seamers bowled nearly 82 overs for just three wickets, while spin got four wickets in just 52 overs. That’s something they’ll need to reassess. The standout, though, was Mohammed Siraj — it was great to see him bowl with such heart right till the end.”

JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott evaluated Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling performance and highlighted the lack of pressure from the other end as a key factor“Bumrah’s areas were pretty good, and his economy reflects that — he was just a bit unlucky. But the bigger issue is pressure from both ends. Bumrah benefits massively when there’s support at the other end, and that wasn’t the case today. When you’re slightly under par as a bowling unit — like India were — control from both ends becomes crucial. I’d have liked to see Bumrah bowl in tandem with spin from the other end — either Washington or Kuldeep — to build pressure. But with runs constantly leaking from the opposite side, England’s batters didn’t feel the kind of pressure we’ve seen Bumrah create in the past.”

Trott broke down Joe Root’s composed 150-run innings, crediting the England batter’s maturity and evolved approach:*

“Joe Root’s method is just so solid — you don’t see him shift gears dramatically. When Bazball first came in, he experimented a bit — ramping seamers, playing reverse scoops — but he’s set that aside now. He’s found a balanced approach, maybe carried over a few elements from that expansive phase, but overall, he sticks to what works best for him. When the opposition — like India today — aren’t challenging enough, Root digs in, takes guard, and mentally decides to bat through the day. He forces you to produce a top-quality delivery to dismiss him — and India simply couldn’t do that today. Another 150 to his name, and as I said earlier, he’s mastering his craft more with every knock.”

Manjrekar assessed the Day 4 outlook at Old Trafford, highlighting India’s intent and key English bowling threats:

“India won’t be thinking of a draw — they’ll be hoping for the sun to be out so they can pile on runs and put pressure back on England. The surface is showing signs of uneven bounce, so it could get tricky for some bowlers. Chris Woakes may not be as effective, but Ben Stokes will still need to bowl a lot of overs. Jofra Archer’s tall action and ability to target the stumps could prove dangerous, especially if the ball stays low. And watch out for Liam Dawson — not necessarily for unplayable deliveries, but he’ll play a crucial role in England’s bowling strategy.”