India’s vaunted batting line-up fell like a house of cards in the first session of Day 2 at the Motera Stadium as English bowlers gave the hosts a taste of their own medicine.
Beginning the day on 99/3, India had a set Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane taking guard on Thursday afternoon.
However, Jack Leach initiated India's fall with Rahane's wicket early on and no other Indian batsmen could resist the collapse. After Rohit Sharma was dismissed on 66 by Leach in the 41st over, there was little hope left for India.
But little did anyone realize that English skipper Joe Root would take over the mantle of wrecker-in-chief from Leach later on.
5 - Joe Root claimed figures of 5/8; the fewest runs conceded in a Test five-wicket haul for England since 1924 (AER Gilligan's 6/7 v SA). Impact.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim)
The right-hand spinner scalped the wickets of Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and finally Jasprit Bumrah, as Twitter expressed shock at England's hidden weapon.
1983 - Joe Root is the first man to claim a five-wicket haul as England captain since 1983 (Bob Willis, 5/35 v NZ). Skip.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim)
Anything Ashwin can do Joe Root can do better...
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93)
Joe Root:
6.2 Overs
3 Maidens
8 Runs
5 WicketsBCCI
Live:— Test Match Special (@bbctms)
Insane. All things considered, that might be the greatest spell of bowling in Test cricket history.
And he’s a batsman.
Take a bow, Skipper— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan)
Root-iah Muralitharan strikes again!!!
Our skipper
— The County Cricket Podcast (@TheCountyCrick2)
Amidst the hosts losing wickets at regular intervals, it was an unbeaten cameo from Ishant Sharma who highlighted India’s innings with a massive six of Leach.
Ishant Sharma after playing 194 international matches for India (100 in Tests, 80 ODIs, 14 T20Is) has just hit his first six of his career after facing 2677 balls!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Despite the massive turnaround on Day 2, Virat Kohli and Co. won't lose their peace given the extreme turn the Motera turf has to offer. The pitch has come under criticism yet again in the third Test, but India still remain the favourites to win the match.
Such a super stadium. World’s largest. Day night test, pink ball, crowds are back.. and then we get such a very average wicket for a 5 day game. Our cricket administrators need to decide: do we want a great game to be reduced to a lottery?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep)
The team that has to bowl the seamers from here will lose this game ...
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Ishara S Kodikara
