Joe Root Becomes Player With Most Centuries In India-England Tests

England skipper Joe Root leapfrogged Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Alastair Cook to become the player with the most number of centuries in India-England Test matches. The trio held the record previously with seven centuries each.

Root racked up his third century of the series, with five more innings to go. He has now top-scored for England in every single innings so far. Root reached his eighth century in India-England Tests in just 124 balls and took a total of 41 innings to achieve the feat.

Root also became the first player to score centuries in three consecutive Tests twice in a calendar year. He had achieved the feat earlier in the year when he scored centuries against Sri Lanka and India.

The England skipper was dismissed on 121 in his quest to up the ante. Nevertheless, he had done his job, having inflicted more pain on an already flattened Indian side. In this series alone, Root has amassed a staggering 507 runs in five innings.

England in pole position to level the series as lead crosses 300 runs on the back of Joe Root’s masterclass

Indian bowlers needed to find quick wickets when the day began. They were successful as both the overnight batsmen were dismissed without adding much to their score. However, Dawid Malan, returning to Test cricket after a while, teamed up with Root to put up a 139-run stand that deflated the Indians.

Malan was dismissed at the stroke of lunch, but the English captain remained unfazed at the other end. He continued his merry ways and brought up the century in the company of his Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow.

Close to the end of play, England lost a few quick wickets but their lead crossed 300. Currently, Sam Curran and Craig Overton are at the crease as they look to pile on the misery.

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