Watch: Joe Root takes a stunner at slips to dismiss Sarfaraz Khan

Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan wasn’t able to continue his brilliant batting display during the fourth IND vs ENG Test match and was dismissed for 14 runs from 53 balls.

During the 3rd ball of the 52nd over, Tom Hartley bowled an outside off-stump delivery to which Sarfaraz looked to drive the ball. Root took an outstanding catch at the slips while diving to his left. Sarfaraz played a slower innings than he played in the last game.

Sarfaraz Khan was able to achieve a pair of half-centuries in the third Test match and put up a brilliant batting display on his debut.

Watch: Joe Root takes sensational catch to dismiss Sarfaraz Khan in 4th Test

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The Indian cricket team wasn’t at its best with the bat on Day 2. The hosts lost captain Rohit Sharma early for 2 runs when he edged a swinging delivery from James Anderson. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill ensured India overcame the damage and added 82 runs from 131 balls. Gill played an innings of 38 runs from 65 balls. Gill was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir and was caught in front.

Rajat Patidar as well wasn’t able to perform well and once again disappointed with the bat. He also fell to Shoaib Bashir for 17 runs in 42 balls. Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t able to continue his magic and got out for 12 runs from 12 balls, he also fell prey to Bashir.

While the wickets continued to tumble, Yashasvi Jaiswal became the leading six-hitter for India in a calendar year in Test cricket. Jaiswal went passed veteran Indian opener Virender Sehwag and has hit 23 sixes till now. Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant currently sits in the third spot with 21 sixes during 2022.

Yashasvi Jaiswal also went passed Australian legend Adam Gilchrist and is ranked in the third spot in the list of batsmen to slam the most sixes in a calendar year in Test cricket. Ben Stokes stands in the second spot with 26 sixes, whereas Kiwi legend Brendon McCullum tops the list with 33 sixes.

Yashasvi Jaiswal also brought up his half-century in 89 balls and showcased a brilliant display of attacking and sensible cricket. Jaiswal wasn’t able to convert his fifty into a hundred and was dismissed for 73 runs from 117 balls. Jaiswal hit 8 fours and 1 sixes during his stay at the crease. Jaiswal was cleaned up by Shoaib Bashir.

India lost two more wickets in the space of 15 runs, as Tom Hartley dismissed Sarfaraz Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin in quick succession for 14 and 1 run respectively.

The opening innings of the fourth Test match had England’s Joe Root as the standout player. Root was unbeaten on 122 runs from 274 balls and hit ten fours during his time at the wicket. He also scored 102 runs off 163 balls for the eighth wicket, alongside Ollie Robinson. Robinson provided excellent support to Root, scoring 58 runs off 96 balls.

England was humiliated in their last encounter against India, losing by 434 runs. The three lions would want to level the series by winning the fourth Test at Ranchi. However, they were faced with the same old problem: relying on individual performances. England were 112/5 at one stage, and if Joe Root hadn’t scored a century, the Three Lions may have concluded their innings much before 250 runs.