India walked out on Day 2 of the Ahmedabad Test at 99/3 against England looking to post a big lead over the visitors and claw the Third Test in their kitty. The hosts did manage to gain the lead but the Indian innings lasted only for a couple of hours with an advantage of mere 33 runs.
6.2-3-8-5 — these were the bowling figures of England skipper Joe Root who ran through the Indian unit one wicket after another, claiming his first five-for. Additionally, the previous English captain who achieved such a feat was back in 1983 and it was by Bob Willis.
India started the day with 99/3 and went back to the hut with 145 all out. Jack Leach, England’s frontline spinner, scalped four.
Root’s exceptional spell left cricket fans and viewers spellbound.
What a spell from Joe Root. It's his maiden Test fifer and what a time to deliver, in just 38 balls he took 5 wickets by conceding just 8 runs. India bowled out for 145, lead of 33 runs. pic.twitter.com/VICpJ3W2Ih— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 25, 2021
And his heroics that brought England back in the game were turned into hilarious yet fitting memes.
Joe Root with a Fifer 😔😔😔#INDvENG#PinkBallTest pic.twitter.com/EMbe6bhXUo— #GillOP (@knight_riderr7) February 25, 2021
#INDvsENG Joe Root with Joe Root withBat ball pic.twitter.com/zL4nBqdOqr
— Ankit Chaurasia✨✨( restricted) 😶 (@Ankitnick007) February 25, 2021
“poor team selection, 1 spinner isn’t enough” joe root :#bbccricket #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/moJJmNd34S— Ed (@_Edparry) February 25, 2021
#INDvENG Part Time bowler Joe Root comes and takes 5 wickets , Jack Leach left stranded on 4 wickets * Jack Leach : pic.twitter.com/i5I44hEYDz
— Aman (@BeInG_a_MaN1) February 25, 2021
India batsmen to Joe Root bowling pic.twitter.com/b0vKsuosWb— pressed peanut sweepings (@iggigg) February 25, 2021
How🇮🇳Sees Joe Root - pic.twitter.com/t7yvGrgjZX— D (@D95448238) February 25, 2021
#INDvsENG Joe Root took wickets of Axar be like : pic.twitter.com/9kGEDZwRTZ
— Radian⚡R D 📖 (@imramdyal) February 25, 2021
Much to the delight of fans in attendance at the glorious stadium in Ahmedabad, England lost two in the first over bowled by Axar Patel. Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow returned to the pavilion without disturbing the scorers.
W, 0, W! 👌👌@akshar2026 narrowly misses out on a hat-trick but what a start this has been for the local boy! 👍👍@Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTestFollow the match 👉 https://t.co/9HjQB6TZyX pic.twitter.com/00HrgvVyzv
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 25, 2021
As England’s score read 0/2, the great Sunil Gavaskar, sitting in the commentary box, quipped: “It’s not the pitch, it’s the mind."
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