During the second Test, a finger injury forced premier batter Joe Root to leave the field, dealing a setback to the England team. The incident occurred on Day 3 at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, leaving the team and fans concerned about his return to the game.
Root suffered the injury while fielding in the slip during the first session of the day. As he attempted to make a slip catch, he sustained an external blow to his right little finger. Promptly, the Englishman left the field to undergo treatment, and the England medical team affirmed that he would temporarily stay off the field for treatment and icing.
“Joe Root suffered an external impact to his right little finger while trying to make a slip catch in the initial session of Day 3. The England medical team has decided to keep him away from the field temporarily for treatment and icing,” an official update from the England camp stated this.
Following the injury, Root did not return to the field after the Lunch break, with Dan Lawrence taking up the role as his substitute. Root’s absence is a significant blow for England, as he has been a key player, especially in the Test series, contributing as a spinner.
The incident occurred in the 18th over when Root attempted to catch Shubman Gill at the first slip on Tom Hartley’s delivery. Unfortunately, he failed to secure the catch, and the ball raced away for a boundary, resulting in the injury to his finger.
Before the injury, Root had bowled only two overs in the second innings. In the first Test at Hyderabad, he had impressive figures of 4-79 and 1-41, playing a crucial role in England’s 28-run victory.
India were bowled out for 255 in their second innings setting England a target of 399. In their reply, England were 67 for 1. Zak Crawley was batting on 29* while night watchman Rehan Ahmed was batting on 9*. Ben Duckett (28) fell prey to R Ashwin.
England have two days to achieve the target and secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series while Indian bowlers would try to restrict them and level the series. They need 332 runs to win.