IND vs ENG 4th Test: Joe Root Creates History, Becomes Batter With Most Test Century Against India

Joe Root smashed his 31st Test century during the 4th Test against India in Ranchi.

New Delhi: England’s star batter Joe Root created history during the fourth Test after smashing a crucial hundred against India at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, on February 23. He became the batter with the most Test centuries against India and surpassed his Australian rival Steve Smith. He now has 10 tons vs India. This is also his 31st Test Century.

This is Joe Root’s first Test century after 14 innings. His last red-ball ton came against Australia back in June 2023 in Birmingham. This is also his first Test century on Indian soil after three years, the previous one came in Chennai, back in February 2023. He converted that ton to an astonishing double-century. Root also has 20 fifty-plus Test scores against India in Tests. He holds a joint position with Australian legend Ricky Ponting for this record.

Test century #️⃣3️⃣1️⃣

Pure class from Joe Root 😎

Match Centre: https://t.co/B58xShTQq5

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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 23, 2024

Joe Root’s sublime 106 not out off 226 balls, his 31st century in the format and also his tenth Test hundred against India, was laced with nine fours, helped England cross 300 after being 112/5 at lunch, with debutant fast-bowler Akash Deep taking first three scalps.

Root got ample support from Ben Foakes (47) and Ollie Robinson (31 not out) to stitch partnerships of 113 and an unbeaten 57 respectively on a pitch which looked cracker and had traces of variable bounce, seam movement and turn to keep England on top at the end of first day’s play.

In the final session, after beginning sedately, Foakes went for the aggression by swinging Ravichandran Ashwin over mid-wicket for six and rolling his wrists to sweep and slog-sweep for consecutive fours. But Mohammed Siraj broke the 113-run partnership for the sixth wicket as Foakes chipped to short mid-wicket for 47.

Tom Hartley had some fun by swinging Ashwin for six and edging past second slip for four off Siraj. The fast bowler had the last laugh with the beauty of a delivery nipping away and going past the outside edge to crash into the stumps.

Root took a boundary off Akash by squeezing the yorker for four past fine leg and brought up his magnificent century off him with a delightful cover drive going for a boundary. Robinson had some fun at the fag-end of the match by slog-sweeping Kuldeep Yadav for six, followed by leaning into the drive off Akash and pulling Yashasvi Jaiswal for two fours to take England past 300 before stumps came on a day that belonged to Root and the visitors.