• Jasprit Bumrah trapped Joe Root for the ninth time in his career on Day 3 of the Rajkot Test.

  • Root was dismissed in an attempt to execute a reverse-lap against Bumrah, attracting a fare share of criticism and trolling.

IND vs ENG: Twitter mocks Joe Root after his weird dismissal against Jasprit Bumrah in Rajkot Test
Joe Root and Jasprit Bumrah (Image Source: Twitter)

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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 illustrious 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:

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 withdraws 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:

Also READ: Stuart Broad, Michael Vaughan & others react on the controversial DRS dismissal of Ollie Pope

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.