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The third Test between India and England in Rajkot took an unexpected turn on Day 3, not just due to the brilliant performance by Indian bowlers but also because of Joe Root‘s peculiar dismissal on the delivery of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The Twitter world couldn’t help but mock the former English captain for his unconventional and unsuccessful attempt at a reverse-lap shot.
Jasprit Bumrah’s mastery over Joe Root
As the English team resumed their innings at 207/2, hopes were high for another solid day for the visitors. However, Bumrah had other plans, trapping Root for the ninth time in his il♛lustrious career.
Bumrah’s mastery over Root has become a talking point in this series, and the Rajkot Test added another chapter to their rivalry with the Indian pacer yet again making the former English skipper his bunny.
Root’s bizarre dismissal
What caught everyone’s attention was the manner in which Root departed. Known for his innovative shot-making and praised for adopting unconventional strokes in recent years, Root’s attempt at a reverse lap against Bumrah turned into his downfall this time around. The fuller delivery from Bumrah saw Root mistiming the shot and the ball went straight into the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal at the second slip.
Here’s the video:
Lightning reflexes from Jaiswal! ⚡️👏
A brigꦕht start for Bumrah & 😍💪 on Day 3! 🔥
— JioCinema (@JioCinema)
Backlash from fans and experts
While Root has been lauded in the past for his adaptability and evolution as a batter, this dismissal invited criticism from fans and cricketing experts alike. Many pointed out that Root’s experimentation with a bazball approach might be detracting from his natural style of play, leading to a struggle in finding form.
Also READ: R Ashwin withdraw🍎s from Rajkot Test; rushes home to be with his mother
Impact on England’s innings
Root’s dismissal proved to be the catalyst for a collapse in the English batting lineup. The floodgates opened, and subsequent wickets of Ben Duckett (153) and Jonny Bairstow left England in a precarious situation.
Twitter mocks Root
As expected, Twitter erupted with memes, jokes and mocking comments after Root’s unusual departure. Fans and cricket enthusiasts took to social media to express their disbelief and amusement at the English skipper’s failed attempt at the reverse-lap shot. Some even questioned the wisdom of deviating from his traditional style in such a crucial moment.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Same Same?? 🤪🤪
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Watching Joe Root nowadays
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani)
Joe root before bazball Joe root post bazball
— Arumugam Natarajan (@porichaparotta)
Joe Root falls against Bumrah. Again. Also, that very sharp catch🦂 from Yashasvi Jaiswal. Brilliant reflexes.
— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima)
Since everything is wrestling, Bazba🍸ll has always come across as the NWO of Test cricket, so much so that even Joe Root, the ultimate babyface, was convinced to turn heel. Looking at Root’s reactions post dismissals in this series, looks l🌠ike he is ready for a face turn
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
While Bazball has reinvented Duckett's career, it's made Joe Root look silly.
Mccullum took over as head coach iꦛn June 2022 &𒈔amp; Root was in the form of his life the previous 18 months, churning out test hundreds for fun.
Root in tests:
𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐳𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 (𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟏 – 𝐉𝐮𝐧…— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16)
Isﷺ🉐 Joe Root deliberately playing like this? Can’t understand such classy batsman giving away his wicket so carelessly?
— Basit Subhani (@BasitSubhani)
Root had issues with conversion rate but never did he struggle to convert 10s into 20s like in Bazball era. It's obvious that no matter how hard he tries to fit into the bazball by reverse scooping it'll be only in vain.
Sadly, it's either the end of his career or Bazball atm🫠— Ayesha♡ (@JoeRoot66Fan)
Joe Root one of the best te🐼st batsmen, loses his wicket trying to REVERSE SWEEP Bumrah, the best pacer itw at 18 runs???? HOLY SHIT THIS GAME HAS FALLEN OFF.
— PH7 (@pnh28)
Joe root be like ~
— Dr.ADESH ⚡⚡ (@doc___Ab)
One of the b🌠iggest brain fade moments of Bazball era is what they have made ♔of Joe Root. Among the top three Test batters this generation, this was a pitch Joe Root would have put in a tent and smashed a double hundred
Shockingly, t𓃲hey asked him to change his game. I mean why?
— Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket)
Wish Joe Root co🌞mes out of this bazball shit and continues to play his game.
— Preetha Ramanujam (@PreethaRaina3)
Mccullum motivating Joe Root to play Bazball.
— Aparna (@AppeFizzz)
Feel like pure shi🥀t, just want Joe Root batting nor♛mally back.
— Nick Challis (@NickChallis)
Bazಌball has messed up the minds of their own player🍸s.
— Prince Thomas (@PRINCE0879)
The concept of Bazball needs to erased ♊from the ༺mind of Joe Root for sure. Only then he can be at his usual best imo.
— P🍃olit𒆙ics N Cricket 🏏 🇮🇳🏴🎵 🎥🎤 (@rs_3702)
