IND vs ENG: Joe Root scripts history, becomes first batter to hit 10 centuries against India in test cricket

Joe Root slammed his 31st hundred during the fourth test match against India in Ranchi.

The ongoing fourth test game between India and England witnessed another historic moment as Joe Root, the English batting maestro, carved his name even deeper into test cricketing history. The right-handed batter Joe Root became the first player ever to score ten centuries against India in the longest format. England’s Joe Root achieved this historic feat during day 1 of the fourth test match between India and England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on February 23, Friday.

Joe Root notched up 31st century of his test career to leave behind Indian batter Virat Kohli among the current ‘Fab Four.’ Among the current generation’s ‘Fab Four,’ Kane Williamson and Steve Smith have most test tons – 32 each – followed by Root (31) and Virat Kohli (29).

After picking five wickets before lunch break, Indian bowlers failed to keep the momentum going as England batters Joe Root and Ben Foakes added a 100-run stand for the sixth wicket and bailed themselves out. Ben Stokes-led England saw a wicketless session after lunch for the first time in the ongoing five-match series against India.

Root entered history books with his brilliant century as he became the first-ever cricketer to register ten test hundreds against India. He surpassed Australia’s Steve Smith, who has nine test centuries against India.

Most Test centuries against India

1. Joe Root – 10 hundreds in 52 innings

2. Steve Smith – 9 hundreds in 37 innings

3. Gary Sobers – 8 hundreds in 30 innings

4. Vivian Richards – 8 hundreds in 41 innings

5. Ricky Ponting – 8 hundreds in 51 innings

This is Joe Root’s first test century after 14 innings. His last hundred came against Australia back in June 2023 in Birmingham. The right-handed batter also smashed his first ton on Indian soil after three years; the previous one came in Chennai back in February 2021. England’s veteran batter also has hit 20 fifty-plus scores against India in the longest format.

Most test centuries among Fab 4

• Kane Williamson – 32* (98 matches)
• Steve Smith – 32 (107 matches)
• Joe Root – 31 (139 matches)
• Virat Kohli – 29 (113 matches)

Michael Vaughan lauds Joe Root’s ‘common sense ball’

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, lauded Joe Root’s approach in the game and said that the batter had played ‘common sense ball’ instead of ‘Bazball.’ This statement came up when Root reached his fifty against India in the ongoing fourth test in Ranchi.

Michael Vaughan had previously slammed Root during the Rajkot test match and had asked the batter to play the situation better.

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