In the process, Root became the third English player to score a century in his 100th Test and helped his team to 263-3 at the end of the first day. The overall number looks pretty impressive on a track that is likely to go down as the game progresses. Root’s third 200-run wicket partnership with the opener Dom Sibley (87), who found out in the last day of the day that he had not dealt with Jasprit Bumrah yorker, making sure the visitors have a solid platform to summon the sights from here.
SCORECARD
There was little more India could do to stop Root (batting 128) on Friday. He came into a bat at 63-2 just before lunch when England lost two quick wickets. Things could have gone terribly wrong for the visitors if India had used a half-chance to run Root out soon after. But once he survived and came back for a second session, India did not know how to deal with the captain of England, who got his third test of the trot.
The ball had just started to turn back after lunch and the kick, too, was sometimes uneven. Both Bumrah and Ishant Sharma bowling in good rhythm and Root, along with Sibley, went down. They left a lot outside the stump, tried to come on the front leg to deal with the low kick from time to time, and with the pitch on the slowest side, it was more easier to keep anything that kept rubbing low. After a while the ball stopped back as well, which Bumrah pointed at the end of the game.
“In India, it is very important to prepare the ball to turn it back. But with the saliva ban in place, we could not work on the ball and make one side heavier to ensure that return the ball. So it was sad when they got settled, “Bumrah analyzed.
But then, there were three spinners – Ashwin, Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Nadeem to deal with. Nadeem was a late adopter after sprinter Axar Patel complained of knee pain and was rejected. India chose not to add mixture to the attack by including spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
They preferred to go for restraint rather than take the offensive option and played three finger spinners. The team’s management seemed to think that the pitch would be enough for branch spinners to make life difficult for Root and Co., but those 22 yards did not play as expected. Day 1.
However, the challenge was difficult for Root. But the England captain was brilliant in throwing the spinners off. He chose to sweep – even sweep back – with anger when the ball was around a good length and that made Ashwin, Washington and Nadeem change their length. The bullet was cut, including a few late cuts, out of the bag when the ball was inserted a little short and for anything that was too high, the driver offered it . Add to that the good practice of his legs and the dead defense of Pujaraesque with Sibley at the other end, and it became very difficult for Virat Kohli to get the crucial break.
The run in the first two sessions got a little thicker in the third with Nadeem going at more than three runs each and Washington surrendering 4.5. It meant that India suffered heavy casualties Ravindra Jadeja and the nose they had on the Aussies a few days ago seemed to be missing.
“I’m ready to start again and we’re looking to bring the score to somewhere near 600,” Root said, warning India as guests watch went on strike early Saturday to ensure the happy hangover, following Australia’s victory, can last longer.