Anil Kumble, a former India captain, has drawn a surprising parallel between England batsman Joe Root and India’s two finest players, claiming that Root is on par with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 50-over game.
During England’s current one-day international series against India, the renowned spinner underlined Root’s technical approach and game awareness, which set him apart from their typically aggressive batting setup.
Kumble was particularly pleased by Root’s ability to rotate the strike and identify holes, describing him as incredibly dependable and aware of when to play aggressive shots and when to build momentum gradually.
Notably, Root led England to a 1-1 draw with India in the one-day international series despite being stranded on an undefeated 99 from 133 balls.
“Joe Root is to England as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are to India.” Root is the only batsman in England’s lineup who still plays with an old-school ODI approach.
Root’s ability to rotate the strike and find holes makes him highly reliable, despite the other hitters’ aggressive start. You know he wouldn’t take a hazardous shot at the wrong time.
That level of gaming knowledge is crucial,” Anil Kumble stated on JioHotstar.
The experienced spinner then compared England’s skipper, Harry Brook, to Root. Joe Root’s traditional method excelled on pitches with bounce and movement, whilst Harry Brook’s aggressive approach failed against various delivery types.
Brook attempted to play T20 shots in conditions that did not allow them, but Root delivered a masterclass in ODI batting,” he continued.
Anil Kumble went on to outline what distinguishes batsmen like Root, Kohli, and Sharma from the rest.
“What makes Root, Kohli, and Rohit so successful is that their run-scoring appears effortless. They do not plan ahead. They reacted to the ball. They favour low-risk, high-reward cricket over high-risk, high-reward cricket.
Anil Kumble decided that having class, grace, and a positive outlook benefits the team as a whole.
On Sunday, July 19, India and England will play their third and final One-Day International at Lord’s in London.
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