ENG VS IND: “You Play to Win Games,” says Joe Root after 99* masterclass in Cardiff

Joe Root with a 99 run masterclass against India ( PC- X)

Joe Root once again stood tall as England’s beacon of hope in the second ODI against India, delivering a composed knock when his team needed it the most after a tough start. While Root remained unbeaten at 99, it was a match-winning knock by the veteran as England level the three-T20I series 1-1.

“That’s what the game is all about. Getting the job done, is the best thing,” Root, Player of the Match, told the host broadcasters. “That’s not what you play for (centuries), you play to win games. This was a big game. It was difficult to bat, our bowlers did a good job. That gave us the opportunity. We now go to Lord’s with everything to play for. We lost the first game and learnt. They are the number 1 ranked team in the world. I think it’s a different place where we are.”

Walking in at a tricky juncture after early setbacks, Root was tasked with holding the innings together on a testing Cardiff surface.

The early breakthrough for India was given by Jasprit Bumrah, whose brilliance sent Ben Duckett back for a duck while Jacob Bethell followed him back to the hut soon after scoring just four runs.

With England reeling under pressure, Root embraced the responsibility of anchoring the innings.

Facing a disciplined Indian bowling attack on a challenging deck, Root showcased his class and temperament. He stitched the innings together with patience, focusing on strike rotation and occasional boundaries while wickets tumbled around him. He remained stranded at 99 runs off 133 balls at a strike rate of 74.44 and ensured England won by 4 wickets and levelled the series 1-1 against India. His match-defining 72-run partnership with Will Jacks and concluding 38-run stand with Gus Atkinson took India out of the game.

This innings also marked his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODI cricket, underlining his remarkable consistency.

Even in the first ODI, Root stepped up for England after a major middle order collapse, registering 76 runs off 76 balls.

The series decider will be played on July 19 at the Lords.

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