The fourth test match between India and England is in an interesting situation as England put up a brave front after losing crucial wickets while batting and now they are making things difficult for the Indian batters as well.
The fourth test match is being played at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi and the visitors chose to bat first after winning the toss.
England got a decent start as its openers stitched a partnership of 47 runs for the first wicket but the debutant Indian pacer Akash Deep took 3 wickets and England was left reeling at 57/3. The former England skipper Joe Root understood that he needed to keep aside Bazball for some time and play conventional cricket otherwise his team will lose the match on the first day itself.
Joe Root played a patient innings as he faced 219 deliveries in order to reach his century and this is the third slowest century of his career. However with this century, Joe Root has become the batter with the most number of test hundreds against India, this was his 10th century against India and he surpassed the Australian batter Steve Smith who has 9 centuries against India.
Joe Root remained not out at the score of 122* runs (274 balls, 10 fours) and he got good support from Jonny Bairstow (38 runs), Ben Foakes (47 runs) and Ollie Robinson (58 runs). England managed to put a total of 353 runs on the scoreboard and Ravindra Jadeja was the highest wicket taker for India as he took 4 wickets by the end of Englandβs first innings.
The manner in which Joe Root played made many happy as this is how cricket fans are used of seeing him batting and X was flooded with reactions as well. Here are some selected ones:
This is more like the Joe Root we know. Can't keep such a class player quiet for long.
PS: Two 'scoops' of ice cream for Joe at stumps please π Well played @root66 ππ½ #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/yLiQQcqHoF— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 23, 2024
This is the Joe Root mode that win you Test matches! Glue mode. Let the rest play Bazz Ball.
Good start from India. Good fight from Eng. Setting up for a good Test match
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 23, 2024
No words can express my feelings. What a hundred! What a hundred from my man Joe, Joe, Joe Root! #INDvsENG #JoeRoot pic.twitter.com/SKrwiWObL8
— Classic Prasanna (@ClassicPrasanna) February 23, 2024
Typical Joe Root π― not bazball. Solid inning on this pitch. #INDvENG
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 23, 2024
Well played Joe Root ! Class is permanent .
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) February 23, 2024
The Perfect Test Match Century β€οΈ#JoeRoot pic.twitter.com/lIAvlVrwfz
— Mahesh (@MaheshMGW23) February 23, 2024
Things You Love To See ππ
π― up for Joe Root
Congratulations Rooty! #YorkshireFamily pic.twitter.com/AaFLRu5Eyz
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) February 23, 2024
This is the root, world cricket fears! #INDvENG #joeroot pic.twitter.com/BZUGzemmMx
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 23, 2024
How good was it to watch #Joeroot as a test batsmen in complete control, class of this generation. Wonderful π―ππ #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/xKKUOpFn8S
— Thana (@Pitstop387) February 23, 2024
"Watching Joe Root bat is like witnessing a master artist paint strokes of perfection on the canvas of the cricket field. His century was a masterpiece of precision and elegance. Truly a sight to behold! π¨π #JoeRoot #INDvsENG #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/xOZBRCbQGf
— Prajwal(ΰ€ ΰ€ΰ€¬ΰ€Ύΰ€¨ΰ₯ ΰ€ΰ€) (@Prajwal2742) February 23, 2024
England were in trouble as were 112/5 at one point but out came Joe Root who led them to 302/7 at the end of day one!! Finally plays in his own original way,not like bazball & is now on 106* π₯#INDvENG β’ #JoeRoot β’ #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/2EKN6gi6wW
— ishaan (@ixxcric) February 23, 2024
In response, India had a poor start as skipper Rohit Sharma got out at the score of 2 runs only, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill produced a partnership of 82 runs but after Shubman Gill got out at the score of 38 runs (65 balls, 6 fours), India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Yashasvi Jaiswal once again performed superbly as he played a knock of 73 runs for which he played 117 balls and his innings included 8 fours and 1 six.
By the end of the day 2, Indiaβs score was 219/7 with Dhruv Jurel (30* runs, 58 balls, 2 fours & 1 six) and Kuldeep Yadav (17* runs, 72 balls, 1 four) at the crease and India is currently trailing by 134 runs.
What do you think? Which team has a better chance of winning this match? Let us know your opinion.
