Watch- Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin aggressively celebrate Joe Root's wicket

Indian captain Rohit Sharma was buzzing after veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Aswhin removed England’s most experienced batter in Indian conditions Joe Root for yet another low score during the Three Lions’ chase of 399 in the 4th innings of the 2nd Test here in Vishakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA stadium.

Joe Root became Ravichandran Ashwin’s 499th Test scalp and his 3rd overall in the 4th innings. His first two scalps were opening batter Ben Duckett and 1st Test’s man of the match Ollie Pope for scores of 28 and 23 respectively. However, Root’s wicket was perhaps the most important one for the Indian team, something that was evident in the aggressive reaction of Rohit Sharma.

https://twitter.com/expert42983/status/1754373230046134563

England’s mammoth run chase has not started off that well as they have already lost 4 wickets. The onus is totally upon the batters and they will have to work very hard to grab a win. English batters will have to make sure they bat throughout day 4 and try to stretch the game further to day 5.

Their Bazball approach of scoring runs rapidly has indeed worked until now on Indian soil but in this particular run chase, the visitors will have to infuse a lot of patience in their attacking game play. From England’s perspective, opening batters Ben Duckett and Zak Crawly scored a 50-run stand for the 4th time in the Test series before the former’s departure in the 11th over on day 3’s closing session.

The Brendon McCullum-led management would then send Rehan Ahmed to play the night watchman’s role and he negotiated pretty well before stumps were called for the 3rd day.

However, all of his negotiations came to an end right after the 1st session of day 4 began. Ahmed while he playing at 23, stood in the line of the stumps to depart for a lbw off Axar Patel. But there weren’t many reasons to worry as Ollie Pope came in at 4 but he failed to hold on to the start he got off to.

Ravichandran Ashwin Now Just One Shy Off 500 Test Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin made him his 498th Test scalp for 23 runs before Joe Root arrived at the crease and succumbed to the immense pressure he was already in. Root has failed to replicate the performances he is known for in Test cricket until now in this series.

The 33-year-old who has more than 11,000 runs in red-ball cricket, has departed for scores of 29, 2, 5 and 16 across the first 2 Tests in Hyderabad and Vizag. And today the way he got out was absolutely unlike anything we have generally seen from his bat.

As he found himself under a lot of mental pressure, Joe Root decided to step out against the ever so smart Ravichandran Ashwin who was quick to drag his length behind and enforce a mistake. Root failed to judge Ashwin’s line as he landed a leading edge up in the air for a simple catch to Rohit Sharma.

Ravichandran Ashwin is now just a wicket away from becoming the 2nd Indian bowler to register 500 Test scalps. Can he achieve that today or in the next 3 Test matches in Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamshala? Time will tell.