Home
Legendary Sunil Gavaskar expressed his "disappointment" in a light-hearted manner over Joe Root's method of reaching his century during the first day of the fourth Test in Ranchi. Gavaskar humorously remarked his wish to see Root secure his first century of the series with his signature reverse scoop, a move that has sparked much debate after he was dismissed playing the shot during the previous match.
"Yes, superb innings. It was a proper Test match innings. Old-fashioned Test match innings, you would say," Gavaskar said on air.
"But I have got to say, I am a little disappointed. I am a disappointed man because I really wanted him to play a scoop shot to get to his hundred, that reverse scoop. Get to 99, play the reverse scoop, and then play the hundred, and then the crowd goes 'Rooooot'. Particularly the box on our right (England comm box)," Gavaskar added.
'Root ball' reigns over 'Bazball'
On the opening day of the 4th Test against India in Ranchi, Root took a more conventional approach to his game, quieting his critics. Despite India taking five wickets in the morning session, the post-lunch session saw Root steering the game back in England's favor.
For the first time in the series, England managed to complete a session without a loss, thanks to Root's resilient performance. Partnering with Ben Foakes, Root forged a crucial 113-run partnership, pulling England out of the depths after India's debutant pacer, Akash Deep, made significant inroads into their top order.
Root's century, achieved in 219 deliveries, marked his third-slowest in Test cricket, showcasing a deliberate departure from his Bazball tactics to adapt to the playing conditions and steer England from a precarious position.
Root orchestrates England's comeback
Root's disciplined innings was instrumental in England's comeback, moving from 112/5 to 302/7 by the end of 90 overs. Opting against his usual aggressive sweeps and reverse sweeps, Root adopted a traditional batting style, accumulating runs judiciously and avoiding undue risks.
This shift in technique came after Root faced criticism, notably for his reverse scoop in the 3rd Test at Rajkot, which led to his dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah for the ninth time in Tests.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
'I didn't know about...': Akash Deep responds to Mohammed Shami comparisons after shining on Test debut
'My dad wanted me to become something in life': Emotional Akash Deep credits late father for inspirational debut performance
