“Can’t believe what happened”: VVS Laxman shell-shocked by Joe Root’s maiden Test five-wicket haul

VVS Laxman shell-shocked: The former Indian batsman appeared to be in disbelief with the manner in which the hosts were bundled out today.

During the second day of the third Test of the ongoing England’s tour of India in Ahmedabad, England bundled out India for 145 in 53.2 overs in the first innings to stage a tremendous comeback into the match.

England captain Joe Root, who is fondly known for his batting abilities, picked a maiden five-wicket haul to find the Indian batsmen wanting today. Having registered bowling figures of 6.2-3-8-5, Root has picked his best international bowling figures across formats.

Barring India opening batsman Rohit Sharma (66), who had completed his 12th Test half-century last night, no other Indian batsman appeared comfortable in the middle especially against Jack Leach and Root.

Despite India leading by 33 runs in the first innings, they still are not ahead in the match for they will be the ones to chase a target in the fourth innings. Considering if England put on display a much-improved batting in their second innings, the hosts will be under trouble given how the pitch is behaving.

In what isn’t your archetype rank turner, the surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium is behaving in a strange manner. While some batsmen have played fuller deliveries on the back foot, the others have mis-judged the line of delivery to play for turn on a straight delivery.

VVS Laxman shell-shocked by Joe Root’s maiden Test five-wicket haul

Incredible session. Still can’t believe what happened. England well and truly back in the game. #INDvENG @StarSportsIndia

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 25, 2021

How Twitterati reacted:

Anything Ashwin can do Joe Root can do better… #INDvsENG

— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93) February 25, 2021

Such a super stadium. World’s largest. Day night test, pink ball, crowds are back.. and then we get such a very average wicket for a 5 day game. Our cricket administrators need to decide: do we want a great game to be reduced to a lottery? #INDvsENG #NarendraModiStadium

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) February 25, 2021

This England side across all formats has been very good in tight games for a couple of years !!! #INDvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2021

Joe Root joins Josh Hazlewood in the “Pink ball 5/8 against India” club. #INDvENG

— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) February 25, 2021

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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