ENG vs IND 2025: Jonathan Trott reveals reason behind Jasprit Bumrah’s struggle in Manchester Test | CricTrac

England extended their dominance with a masterful knock from Joe Root and steadied their control over proceedings at the end of Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester. Manjrekar and Jonathan Trott analysed India’s bowling concerns, Jasprit Bumrah’s lone battle, and Root’s evolving approach, while also looking ahead to how Day 4 might unfold.

Manjrekar analysed India’s challenges on Day 3 and reflected on Shubman Gill’s leadership under testing conditions. The former batter reckoned that Gill and India’s hands have been tied due to the long list of absentees, particularly going into the fourth Test. India are missing Akash Deep (groin) in Manchester while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the remainder of the series with a knee issue.

The visitors have also had to contend with partial availability of Rishabh Pant, who fractured his toe and could not keep wickets in Manchester. Pant’s fitness issues emerged in the third Test at Lord’s, with India relying on Dhruv Jurel’s glovework on both occasions. Additionally, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have also been troubled during the fourth game, albeit not the extent of affecting their participation.

“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,” Manjrekar said on JioHotsar.

“One area India could have 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 will need to reassess. The standout, though, was Mohammed Siraj — it was great to see him bowl with such heart right till the end,” he added.

Bumrah’s areas were pretty good; he was just unlucky: Jonathon Trott

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 are 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 have seen Bumrah create in the past.”

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

Joe Root has set Bazball experimentations aside: Jonathon Trott

“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.”

India won’t be thinking of a draw: Sanjay Manrekar

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.”

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