Bumrah fifer on return, Rahul's unbeaten fifty keeps India steady after Root ton at Lord's
London, Jul 11 (PTI): Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and Joe Root’s sublime century set up an absorbing contest before KL Rahul's composed unbeaten 53 guided India to 145 for three at stumps on day two of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.
At stumps, India trailed by 242 runs with Rahul and Rishabh Pant (19 batting) at the crease.
Bumrah (5/74) dismantled England’s middle and lower order to claim his second successive five-wicket haul and 15th overall, as the hosts were bowled out for 387 after resuming the day on 251/4.
Root anchored the innings with a composed 104 off 199 balls -- his 37th Test century -- while No 9 Brydon Carse (56) and keeper-batter Jamie Smith (51) staged a crucial lower-order fightback as the last three England partnership was worth 84 runs.
In reply, India started brightly but lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) early with Jofra Archer’s dismissing him in the third ball of his Test comeback after nearly four years.
Rahul held firm with a patient unbeaten 53 (113 balls) adding 61 runs with Karun Nair, who made 40 before falling to a spectacular diving catch by Root at slip -- his record 211th in Tests, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 210 for the most catches by a fielder in men’s Tests.
Captain Shubman Gill (16) fell just two runs short of overtaking Dravid’s record for most runs by an India batter (602) in a Test series in England.
A defensive push off Chris Woakes found the edge, with Smith standing close taking a sharp catch behind the stumps in a key moment of the match.
The five-match series is tied one-all after India bounced back to win the second Test at Edgbaston by 336 runs.
Brief Scores:
England 1st Innings: 387 (Root 104, Carse 56, Smith 51; Bumrah 5/74).
India 1st Innings: 145/3 in 43 overs (KL Rahul 53 batting, Karun Nair 40).
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Zameer Ahmed reacts to Muslim leaders’ letter to Congress high command
Bengaluru: Minister Zameer Ahmed has responded to reports of Muslim community leaders writing to the Congress high command expressing concerns.
Speaking to reporters, he said he had seen the letter in the media and noted that around 15–16 community leaders had written to Rahul Gandhi, as well as to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Mallikarjun Kharge.
“They have expressed their views. If you want to know their opinion, you should ask them. I cannot speak on their behalf,” he said.
Stressing that there is no discrimination, Zameer Ahmed said everyone is being treated equally. “Since those who wrote the letter are community leaders, the reasons behind it should be asked to them directly,” he added.
He also said that different leaders express different views. “One person may speak in my favour, another may speak for someone else. There is no need to consider all that,” he said, referring to discussions around leaders like Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed.
On the issue concerning Naseer Ahmed, Zameer Ahmed said he is a senior leader and that if any anti-party activity was involved, due process should have been followed. “There is a procedure, a notice should be issued first, a reply should be obtained, and then action should be taken. This is also the view expressed by Satish Jarkiholi and several others,” he said.
He clarified that he is not saying action against anyone is wrong if anti-party activity is proven, but decisions should follow proper procedure.
Responding to demands that action against Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed be withdrawn, he said steps should be taken as per rules and that there was a view that immediate action may not have been necessary.
On the mention in the letter about “teaching a lesson” in future elections, he said there is indeed some dissatisfaction among political and community leaders. “We will speak and resolve the issues. Those who have written the letter should be asked directly,” he said.
