India were bowled out for 145 on Day 2 of the third Test against England, having started the day's play on 99/3. Skipper Joe Root was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, registering his maiden five-wicket haul in the longest format of the game. Root claimed figures of 5/8, conceding the fewest runs in a Test five-wicket haul for England since 1924. The 30-year-old's five-wicket haul is further the cheapest by a spinner in the longest format of the game.
Root's game-changing spell has drawn praise on social media platform Twitter.
English international cricketer Alexandra Hartley termed the cricketer capable of outperforming Ravichandran Ashwin.
"Anything Ashwin can do Joe Root can do better... #INDvsENG," she tweeted.
"Not content with leading with the bat Joe Root now has to dominate the bowling! A superb 5-8 from the Captain! #ENGvIND," read a reaction from a fan.
"Joe Root has been disguised as a batsman all these years, absolute ridiculous spell of bowling! #ENGvIND," stated another fan.
Root's spell was further hailed as one of the greatest "spells of bowling in test match cricket".
"Take a bow @root66 Unbelievable effort 5for8 off 6.2 What a effort against India, in India. One of the greatest spells of bowling in test match cricket.#INDvENG #JoeRoot #channel4cricket," the tweet read.
"That's an unreal fight back from England - and a brilliant bowling performance from Joe Root. England still have a chance in this game - incredibly - only trail by 33 runs. #INDvENG," said another fan.
Root accounted for the dismissals of Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah.