Joe Root Scores Century as England Secures Dramatic 7-Wicket Victory Over India in Chennai Test

Joe Root delivered one of the finest innings of his illustrious career today, scoring an unbeaten 118 to guide England to a dramatic 7-wicket victory over India on the final day of the fourth Test at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The former captain batted with supreme composure and technical excellence throughout a tense chase of 287, reaching his century with a perfectly timed cover drive that sent the traveling England supporters into raptures and leveled the series at 2-2 with one match remaining.

England began the day requiring 198 runs with 7 wickets in hand, but the task appeared daunting on a fifth-day pitch that was offering significant assistance to India's spin bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja had been particularly threatening throughout the match, and the home crowd of 35,000 was expecting another collapse from the English batting lineup. However, Root had other plans, resuming on his overnight score of 42 and immediately establishing the intent that would define his masterful innings.

The breakthrough partnership came between Root and wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, who added 89 crucial runs for the sixth wicket to keep England's hopes alive. Foakes played the perfect supporting role, contributing a patient 34 while allowing Root to take calculated risks against India's world-class spin attack. "Joe was incredible today," Foakes said after the match. "He read the pitch perfectly and knew exactly when to attack and when to defend. That's the mark of a truly great player."

Root's century was a masterclass in playing spin bowling on a deteriorating surface, as he used his feet expertly to get to the pitch of the ball while employing the sweep shot to perfection against both Ashwin and Jadeja. His milestone came in the 78th over of the innings, reached with a flowing drive through the covers off Jasprit Bumrah that epitomized his elegance and timing. The celebration was emotional and heartfelt, with Root acknowledging the England supporters before embracing his teammates who knew they had witnessed something special.

India captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged the quality of Root's innings while expressing disappointment at his team's inability to close out the match. "Joe played exceptional cricket today, and sometimes you have to accept that a great player has beaten you," Sharma reflected. "We created chances but couldn't take them, and in Test cricket against quality opposition, you get punished for those missed opportunities." Ashwin finished with figures of 3-89 in the second innings but was unable to produce the magic that has made him so successful at his home ground.

The victory sets up a fascinating finale to the series, with the fifth and final Test scheduled to begin next Thursday in Mumbai. England will take tremendous confidence from this performance, particularly Root's return to his best form after a relatively quiet series by his standards. "This innings will go down as one of Joe's finest," said England captain Ben Stokes. "To chase down a target like that on a fifth-day pitch against that bowling attack shows his class and experience."

Root's unbeaten 118 was his 33rd Test century and his first in India since 2016, ending a drought that had become a talking point throughout the tour. The victory also marked England's first successful fourth-innings chase of more than 250 runs in India since 1985, highlighting the magnitude of their achievement. "I'm just pleased to contribute to a win that keeps us alive in the series," Root said modestly. "The team showed great character today, and now we have everything to play for in Mumbai." The final Test will determine the series winner, with both teams entering the decider with momentum and the knowledge that everything remains to be decided.