We Don't Define Ourselves On A Performance Like This, Says Joe Root After 10-Wicket Loss To India In 3rd Test

England captain Joe Root was honest with his team’s performance, as the visitors lost the third Test against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad with the pink-ball inside two days. India won the match by 10 wickets on day two inside five sessions.

England batted first after Joe Root won the toss in the first D/N Test between the two sides. Zak Crawley made 53 as the pitch started turning pretty early. Things looked a bit easy when Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah were bowling.

But then Virat Kohli unleashed Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin on England. From 74/3, England was bowled out for 112 in the first innings. Axar finished with career-best 6/38, while Ravi Ashwin picked 3/26.

England bowled well to keep India to 145 runs as Joe Root picked 5/8 and Jack Leach took four wickets as well. Joe Root would have thought that with them giving India just 33 runs lead, England could bat well to put India under pressure. However, it was not to be, as Axar picked 5/32 and Ravi Ashwin picked four wickets more to rout England for 81 runs, their lowest score in India, vs India.

It Was High-Quality Bowling As Well. Both Sides Struggled On That Wicket, Says Joe Root

India had to chase just 49 runs to win the match, which they did without losing a wicket. India went 2-1 up in the four-match series with this 10-wicket win and eliminated England from the race of WTC final.

Joe Root said that it was the quality spin bowling from India that got England in trouble, during the post-match presentation.

“We were 70 for 2. But we didn’t really capitalize on it. 250 on that wicket would have made it different. We will come back using this hurt and come back as a better team. The plastic coating on the ball gathered pace of the wicket. It was high-quality bowling as well. Both sides struggled on that wicket. We don’t define ourselves on a performance like this,” said Root.

We Shouldn’t Be Bringing The Baggage Of Previous Matches: Joe Root

Joe Root further said that England should not have been psyched by what happened in the second Test in Chennai, where India routed them on a turning wicket and brought the same issues here in Ahmedabad. It hurt them in both innings, as the ball spun like in Chennai.

“We shouldn’t have any baggage from the previous games going into the last game. We have seen with the ball in hand, we can pick up wickets. I think it sums up the wicket if I am getting a fifer. Congratulations to Ishant for 100 Tests and Ashwin for 400 Test wickets,” said Root.

The fourth Test between India and England begins on March 4 in Ahmedabad.

Also Read: India Go On Top Of The ICC World Test Championship Points Table As They Eliminate England