ENG vs IND: Yuzvendra Chahal tries to emulate Joe Root's magic trick with the bat

Old Trafford is hosting the third and final ODI of the three-match series between England and India on 17th July, Sunday. India opted to bowl first after winning the toss in the series decider, which is currently level on 1-1. During the England batting innings, Yuzvendra Chahal was seen having a bit of fun on the field as he tried to balance one of the England player’s bats while bowling.

The England team was rocked early in their batting innings after losing two of their most in-form batters in Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root in the second over of the innings to Mohammed Siraj. Yuzvendra Chahal was introduced after England opener Jason Roy and Ben Stokes consolidated for the hosts following the early blows. During one of his overs, Chahal was seen trying to copy Joe Root’s trick of balancing the bat on the pitch by touching it. Root had left the viewers bewildered by his trick in the first Test against New Zealand last month.

Yuzvendra Chahal trying to stable the bat like Joe Root on the pitch. 😂 pic.twitter.com/zDF760GDRK

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 17, 2022

Notably, the former Indian skipper Virat Kohli also tried to emulate the English batter’s ‘magic’ trick in the rescheduled fifth Test last month but failed to do so. The English ace batter had used a bat with a flat bottom which enabled him to pull off this incredible trick.

Hardik Pandya broke England’s back with crucial wickets in the middle overs

Meanwhile, the star Indian leggie once again was among the wickets as he grabbed three wickets in the first innings that helped restrict the English total to 259 in 45.5 overs. He scalped the two dangerous-looking batters Craig Overton and David Willey in quick succession before dismissing Reece Topley for a golden duck to pull the curtains on the host’s batting innings.

Hardik Pandya was the star of the show with his impressive bowling display once again. The all-rounder ended with bowling figures of 4/24 in his seven overs. His double-wicket 37th over could prove to be the turning point of the match as he dismissed both set batters, Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone, who were looking in ominous touch and could have provided a few headaches for the Bumrah-less Indian bowling lineup in the death overs.