BRISBANE, Australia: England star batter Joe Root grabbed the spotlight on Day 1 of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, not just for his much-anticipated century but for a celebration that swiftly became a social media sensation.
Root, who had endured a long wait for his maiden Test hundred in Australia, finally broke his duck, but it wasn’t only his runs that made waves.
His post-century pose sent fans into a frenzy as it closely mirrored Pakistani cricket star Babar Azam’s signature celebration after his ODI hundred against Sri Lanka.
Joe Root x Babar Azam 🤷♂️
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.#BabarAzam #JoeRoot #PAKvSL #AUSvENG #Ashes2025 #WTC27 pic.twitter.com/O35w92S4ZX— CricStats (@CricStatsINT) December 4, 2025
After Root reached his three-figure mark, he removed his helmet, held his bat with one hand, tilted his head, and shrugged casually, a move instantly reminiscent of Babar’s elegant gesture, which has since become iconic among cricket followers.
The moment quickly went viral, sparking debates across the cricketing world: Was Root intentionally echoing Babar’s style, or was it a mere coincidence?
The internet buzzed with excitement, with some speculating it was a tribute while others suggested it was an example of cricketing minds aligning in a similar fashion.
