Jasprit Bumrah (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)
Jasprit Bumrah (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

Sanjay Manjrekar feels Virat Kohli may have asked Jasprit Bumrah to use the ploy of bowing bouncers against James Anderson. Sanjay Manjrekar reckons so because he feels Jasprit Bumrah is not someone who would do something like that.

There were enough clips on social media to suggest that India skipper Virat Kohli asked Mohammed Siraj to get under the skin of James Anderson by targetting the helmet. The instructions were there for everyone to see. But it was the Jasprit Bumrah-James Anderson battle that changed the course of the game.

James Anderson and Jasprit Bumrah
James Anderson and Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

Sanjay Manjrekar: Virat Kohli’s Plan Was Executed By Jasprit Bumrah

In a column, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote about the entire episode. It all started towards the end of day three when Jasprit Bumrah peppered James Anderson with a few short deliveries. Sanjay Majrekar said that no one expected Jasprit Bumrah to bowl that sort of length to James Anderson. The veteran went on to write that it was a Virat Kohli plan that the bowlers went on to execute.

“I am guessing this was Virat Kohli’s plan executed by Bumrah. Go after the main guy in the opposition, soften him up a little, stir him up a bit or maybe injure him in a way that the main English weapon was blunted,” Sanjay Manjrekar wrote in his column on Hindustan Times.

Sanjay Manjrekar | Sportzpics
Sanjay Manjrekar | Sportzpics
“Whatever the reason, I just loved it. Why? Because right through my playing career no captain of mine – barring one – did this to any opposition fast bowler fearing the backlash. This is Virat’s great attribute. He is genuinely aggressive and fearless and he is in your face,” Manjrekar wrote.
India and England played out a memorable Test at Lord’s, where the visitors emerged as deserving winners. But apart from the result of the match, the entire team under the leadership of Virat Kohli showed great character to come out of difficult situations. There were a few altercations throughout the match, which only helped India perform even better.

Sanjay Manjrekar: It Was Evident That James Anderson Was Genuinely Affected

There was also an incident where while walking back to the Pavillion, James Anderson allegedly abused Jasprit Bumrah. And from there on, James Anderson was never quite in the match. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami later went on to string an 89-run partnership for the 9th wicket that helped India win by 151 runs in the 2nd Test.

On this Manjrekar said, “you could see Anderson was genuinely affected. He had lost his calm as a competitor. It seemed to me his ego was bruised a little.”

James Anderson
James Anderson (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

If Jasprit Bumrah stole the show with bat and ball (3/33 and 34*), Mohammed Siraj (4/32) wasn’t ready to miss the opportunity to shine at the Home of Cricket as India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Ishant Sharma, who did not play in the first Test due to a niggle, returned to the XI for the Lord’s and picked up three wickets in the first innings and two in the second.

While Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah were the leaders, Ishant Sharma (2/13) and Mohammed Shami (1/13) cannot be ignored for putting in the right support. Mohammed Shami (56 n.o. & 1/13 in 10 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah (34 n.o. & 3/33 in 15 overs) played innings of their lives and then rocked the England top-order, before Ishant Sharma (2/13 in 10 overs) and Mohammed Siraj (4/32) played their part to perfection to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.