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Team India showcased their dominance on the third day of the Rajkot Test against England, delivering an impressive performance with both bat and ball. Despite England’s promising start, the top-class bowling from the Indian side posed significant challenges for the visiting batters.
Joe Root’s dismissal attracts criticism
One of the major talking points of the match was the dismissal of England’s captain, Joe Root.
Root, who was under scrutiny for his batting approach, faced criticism for his unconventional shot selection. Attempting a reverse scoop against Jasprit Bumrah, Root mistimed the delivery, resulting in a simple catch for Yashasvi Jaiswal and a low score for England.
Ben Duckett’s reaction
Following the day’s play, England opener Ben Duckett shared his perspective on Root’s dismissal. Duckett acknowledged the challenging conditions presented by the Indian bowlers and praised their skilful performance. He defended Root’s shot selection, emphasizing the unique talent that Root possesses and comparing the dismissal to any other shot that leads to a batter’s downfall.
“You have to give credit to the way India played this evening. I thought we batted superbly last night but they gave us nothing this morning and bowled really well. We were attacking but it just didn’t pay off,” said Duckett while speaking to TNT Sports.
Also READ: Twitter reactions – Yashasvi Jaiswal’s blazing ton helps India dominate England after bowlers’ splendid show on Day 3 of Rajkot Test
Duckett throws light on Root’s expertise with the reverse scoop shot
Duckett highlighted Root’s proficiency with the reverse scoop shot, mentioning its success in previous matches. He emphasized Root’s exceptional skill set and urged against harsh criticism of the dismissal, suggesting that it should be viewed similarly to any other shot that results in a batter’s dismissal.
“Rooty is a freak and does things a lot of us can’t do. In my eyes that dismissal is the same as playing a drive and nicking off. He plays the reverse scoop so well and I’m sure a lot of people weren’t [criticising it] when it worked in the summer,” Duckett added.
