Whats behind Joe Root celebration with Ben Stokes after his century in IND vs ENG 4th Test.
Joe Root’s jubilant celebration marked a significant turning point for England in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi. After a shaky start that saw England struggling at 112/5 in the first session on Day 1, Root’s resilient century helped steer his team to a more favorable position. His exceptional form was a welcome relief for England, who entered the match trailing 1-2 in the series
Root’s masterful innings, comprising an unbeaten 106 runs off 226 deliveries with nine boundaries, was crucial in guiding England to a respectable total of 302/7 by the end of the day’s play. Upon reaching his 31st Test century, and 10th against India, Root unveiled a unique celebration: lifting his right hand and extending his pinkie finger—a gesture that caught the attention of spectators and commentators alike.
Here is Joe Root and Ben Stokes celebration:
Ben Stokes, recognizing the significance of Root’s century, responded with a standing ovation and reciprocated the pinkie finger gesture—a display of camaraderie between the two star players. Even commentators Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, and Graeme Swann were intrigued by the symbolism behind the celebration, prompting inquiries on air. Despite their curiosity, Swann, a former England off-spinner, was unable to provide an explanation for the gesture.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first instance of Root and Stokes employing the pinkie finger celebration. They had previously showcased the same gesture during Root’s remarkable century in the final match of the five-match series against India in Birmingham back in July 2022. Root’s unbeaten 142, supported by Jonny Bairstow’s 114 not out, facilitated England’s successful chase of 378 runs in the fourth innings, resulting in a thrilling series draw at 2-2.
Joe Root after that match said “Ben’s mentioned trying to be rockstars on the field. So it’s about trying to have fun and really relish every opportunity and put on a show for everyone. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to feel or look like a rockstar but for 10 seconds I might have done, that’s what the little pinkie was about. Ben watched the Elvis Presley film the other day and he’s been doing that all week, so it was a little tribute to him.”