The England skipper, Joe Root tormented the Indian spinners with a significant double century that put England in charge to get a favourable result towards their side on day 2 of 2nd Test in Chennai.
England ended the day on a monstrous first innings score of 555/8 on back of a brilliant knock by Joe Root (218) that was a sum of nine-hour effort in which he faced 377 balls.
Root became the first cricketer who scored a double ton on his 100th Test match but most importantly, it was an innings full of class that will be remembered in a generation to learn on how to play spin in Asian conditions.
He played a different inning on the day as compared to what he did on a day where he was the enforcer and his partner Dom Sibley was the grafter.
Earlier today, Ben Stokes took it all with his blistering shots all over the ground, smashed 82 off 118 balls following 10 fours and 3 sixes. Joe Root kept rotating the strike in a 124 runs stand.
The situation got even worse when England did not declare after passing the mark of 500, it was like they don’t want to win only but to pile misery on Indian team which is completely shaken as nothing happened for them in the last two days.
Joe Root will be applauded for his second double ton in the last three matches but Ben Stokes also deserves appreciation as it was he who baffled the host with his attacking cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin (2/132) who was bowling brilliantly for the last few days got rattled before Stokes took charge of him and did not spare a little. Joe Root also joined Stokes in the cause as he hit two monsters to Ashwin, the second one bringing his fifth double century.
Not only that but the only player who faced Ishant Sharma with some confidence was Stokes because Root mostly defended the veteran pacer but it was Stokes who played a couple of nice-looking shots on square drive off and on a drive that made Virat Kohli stunned for the most of the day.
Overall, Ishant Sharma (2/52) bowled the best he could on any dead wicket, something that needs appreciation. The experienced bowler of 98 Test matches took a couple of wickets at the end of the day but his bowling effort on the flattest track will be remembered.
Shahbaz Nadeem (2/167) who is a young talent in India will now understand that he needs to get improvisation in front of a full-fledged Test team like England.
England ended the play of day 2 on 555/8 with the completion of 180 overs. They will continue on day 3 to add some runs and Test their metal in bowling against an experienced Indian batting side.
India playing 11: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkiya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Shahbaz Nadeem.
England playing 11: Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Jofra Archer, Dom Bess, James Anderson, Jack Leach.
