SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
The second day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford will go down as one of India’s most disappointing bowling performances in recent memory. After posting a respectable 358 in their first innings, India’s vaunted pace attack crumbled under pressure, allowing England to race to 225/2 and seize control of the match.
What made this performance particularly galling was not just the statistics, but the manner of capitulation. England’s openers didn’t just survive—they thrashed the bowling.
The Flat Track Excuse Doesn’t Hold Water
Good bowling attacks find ways to create pressure even on the flattest of decks through discipline, intelligent field placements, and sustained spells. India’s bowlers did none of these things.
Instead, they bowled without clear plans, sprayed the ball around, and allowed England’s batsmen to dictate terms from the very first over. The contrast with England’s own bowling performance, where Ben Stokes claimed a five-wicket haul on the same surface—was stark and damaging.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Rare Off Day
Perhaps most concerning was seeing Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler and usually their most reliable performer, looking toothless, lacking penetration. Bumrah has built his reputation on his ability to extract something from nothing, to create wicket-taking opportunities through skill and guile even when conditions don’t favour bowlers.
His usual pinpoint accuracy deserted him, and his variations seemed to lack the usual venom that has made him one of the world’s best.
Tactical Bankruptcy
Beyond individual performances, India’s bowling unit looked bankrupt. There was no sustained pressure, no building momentum through dot balls, and no intelligent use of field placements to create dismissals. It was embarrassing to watch.
England’s batsmen were allowed to score freely on both sides of the wicket.
The Mental Battle Lost
What made this performance even more damaging was the psychological aspect. England have clearly gotten into India’s heads with their ultra-aggressive “Bazball” approach throughout this series. Rather than rising to the challenge and imposing their own game, India’s bowlers seemed lost.
There was no fight, no sustained aggression, and no belief that they could turn the tide.
With England well-placed to take a first-innings lead. India need a miracle to salvage this match, but it will require a dramatic improvement in both skill and mindset. They need early wickets on day three to prevent England from building a substantial first-innings lead.
Conclusion
India clearly had a bad day even the best teams have off days. But the bowling attack of India’s caliber looks so toothless against aggressive batting.
Siraj looked jaded, Shardul Thakur, a bit and pieces player shouldn’t be in the team. He is not red ball player. He had flukey innings in which his batting technique was exposed.
For now, it remains a day India’s bowlers will want to forget quickly—but must learn from even more urgently. They quickly need to learn to bowl good length in the corridor of uncertainty to create pressure.
