One of the main reasons why Team India have a 2-1 lead going into the fifth and final Test at Old Trafford is because of the contribution from the lower-order.  At Lord’s, during the second Test, it was Jasprit Bumrah (34 not out) and Mohammed Shami (56 not out), who put on a stunning, unbeaten 89-run partnership for the ninth wicket to help India post 298-8 in the second innings. It ended up being a match-defining stand in India’s 151-run win.

At The Oval too, Shardul Thakur’s innings of 57 and 60 boosted India’s prospects in the match. The visitors eventually won by 157 runs. While the English bowlers have been successful in keeping a tight leash on India skipper Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the Pataudi Trophy, the tailenders have wagged their tail, providing the visitors with much-needed resistance. England pacer Mark Wood admitted that it was frustrating to see the Indian tailenders flourish in testing conditions.