After Root’s match-winning 99, the former Indian captain challenges him to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma

Starring England’s Joe Root (ANI Photo) Joe Root produced a master class in ODI batting to anchor England’s successful chase of 234 against India in the second ODI with an unbeaten 99 off 133 balls. As wickets fell around him, the veteran stood firm and composed a composed knock studded with nine boundaries to guide England home with the composure and assurance that defined his one-day career.Root’s innings earned warm praise from former India captain and head coach Anil Kumble, who likened the importance of England’s devotion to his team to that of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to India.“Joe Root is to England what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are to India. Root is the only batsman in this England side who still plays with the old ODI mindset. The other batsmen attacked from the start but Root took his time, anchored the innings and brought calm to the chase,” Kumble told JioHotstar. “His ability to rotate the shot and find the gaps makes him incredibly reliable. You know he’s not going to play a risky shot at the wrong time. That kind of awareness of the game is invaluable,” he said. Kumble also highlighted the similarities between Root, Kohli and Rohit and said the trio’s success stems from their ability to score consistently while keeping risks to a minimum.“Root, Kohli and Rohit are so successful that their scoring looks effortless. They don’t think. They react to the ball. They play low-risk, high-reward cricket rather than high-risk, high-reward cricket. When you have that kind of class, grace and mindset, it makes life easier for the whole team,” he added.

Root chased down the target with ease

India squandered a commanding position after being asked to bat first at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens. Despite a solid 114 between Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66) that took the visitors to 180/3, a dramatic middle-order collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 53 and were bowled out for 233. Jofra Archer (3/47) and Gus Atkinson (3/47 stars with the ball untbe, Bustenrah) 20 helped India to cross the 230 run mark.England’s chase got off to a disastrous start when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Ben Duckett with the first ball of the innings before Prasidh Krishna reduced the home side to 8/2. However, Joe Root anchored the chase with a brilliant 99 off 133 balls* and received valuable support from Will Jacks (30), Sam Curran (26) and Gus Atkinson (23)*. Atkinson hit the winning boundary to seal a four-wicket win and leave Root agonizingly stranded by a century.The result leveled the three-match ODI series at 1-1, with the decider scheduled to be played at Lord’s on 19 July.