Joe Root's Historic Century Leaves India Reeling on Day 3

What a day of Test cricket at Old Trafford. If you’re an England fan, you’re absolutely buzzing. If you’re an India fan, well, it was a long, tough day at the office. Day 3 of the 4th Test was completely dominated by England, thanks to a history-making performance from the one and only Joe Root, who seemed to be playing on a different planet.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Joe Root scores his phenomenal 38th Test ton, joining the ranks of Kumar Sangakkara.
• ✓ Root surpasses Ricky Ponting to become the #2 all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket, now only behind Sachin Tendulkar.
• ✓ He breaks records by hitting the most Test centuries against India (12) and the most home tons against a single opponent (9), surpassing Don Bradman.
• ✓ England finishes the day in a commanding position at 458/4, establishing a 100-run lead over India's 358.
• ✓ Jasprit Bumrah suffers a scare, reportedly slipping on a staircase, limiting his bowling in a crucial session.

The Unstoppable Joe Root: A Day for the Record Books

Let's just start with the man of the hour, because honestly, this day belonged to him. Joe Root didn't just score a century; he rewrote the history books. From the moment he walked out, he looked in sublime touch, making the most of the sunny, batter-friendly conditions in Manchester that had the Indian bowlers searching for answers.

Early in his innings, he was already climbing the ladder of legends. He gracefully moved past cricketing giants like Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs) and Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs) to claim the third spot on the all-time Test run-scorers list. But he wasn't stopping there. You could just feel something special was brewing.

As he approached his hundred, the anticipation was palpable. A confident reverse sweep into the 90s, a few more expertly placed shots, and then a boundary off Anshul Kamboj sealed the deal. It was his 38th Test century, a monumental achievement that puts him level with Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara. The Old Trafford crowd erupted, and rightfully so.

Shattering Records Left and Right

This century was more than just a number. It was a statement. With this knock, Root now holds the record for the most Test centuries against India, with 12, pushing past Steve Smith's tally of 11. He also surpassed the legendary Don Bradman for the most Test centuries by a batter against a single opponent at home, notching his 9th against India in England.

But the biggest milestone of the day came after his ton. With the crowd cheering every run, Root calmly surpassed Ricky Ponting's career tally of 13,378 Test runs. This incredible feat moved him to No. 2 on the all-time list, a position that felt almost untouchable for so long. Now, only the great Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs) stands ahead of him. Just incredible stuff.

💡 What's Interesting: With his fifty, Joe Root recorded his 104th fifty-plus score in Test cricket, moving him ahead of both Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis, who each have 103. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 119, has more.

A Frustrating Day for Team India

While Root and England were basking in glory, it was a day of sheer toil for Shubman Gill and his troops. The morning session was particularly punishing, as England piled on 107 runs without losing a single wicket. Root and Ollie Pope both brought up their half-centuries, leaving India looking flat and out of ideas.

There was a brief glimmer of hope for the visitors right after lunch. Shubman Gill turned to Washington Sundar, and the spinner delivered almost immediately. He induced a thick outside edge from Ollie Pope, who was caught sharply by KL Rahul at first slip. Just a few overs later, Sundar struck again, stumping Harry Brook who came charging down the track. Two quick wickets, and suddenly, India had a small opening.

Unfortunately for them, that's where the joy ended. Root, joined by his captain Ben Stokes, calmly weathered the brief storm and got back to the business of accumulating runs. India’s day was summed up by missed opportunities—a tough dropped catch of Pope by keeper Dhruv Jurel and a missed run-out chance of Root by Ravindra Jadeja. These are the moments that can turn a match, and India just couldn't capitalize.

The Bumrah Injury and England's Dominance

To make matters worse for India, there was a major concern over their pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah. After bowling just one over in the second session, he went off the field. Commentators Harsha Bhogle and Nasser Hussain hinted at an issue, and reports from Cricbuzz later suggested Bumrah had a slip on the staircase during a break. He did return to bowl after tea, but Bhogle noted he was "walking very gingerly."

With their premier bowler not at 100%, India's attack lacked the bite needed to trouble the settled English batsmen. The 400 came up, then the 50-run partnership between Root and Stokes, and soon England had erased the first-innings deficit. From there, they just kept going, reaching 450 and stretching their lead to a formidable 100 runs by the time the day's play neared its end.

Stokes looked comfortable as he approached his half-century, and the English batters seemed to score at will. Captain Gill's decision to delay taking the second new ball was a talking point, but in truth, nothing seemed to work. The pitch remained a batting paradise, and England made India pay for every loose delivery.

Conclusion

When the stumps were drawn on Day 3, there was no question about who was in control. It was England's day through and through, orchestrated by a masterful, record-breaking innings from Joe Root. His ascent to the number two spot in Test history was a sight to behold and a moment that will be remembered for years to come. For India, it was a day of frustration, compounded by an injury concern to their best bowler. They now face a massive 100-run deficit and a monumental task to save this Test match and keep the series alive.