Joe Root fires 99 as England edge ODI win over India: Root warns of ‘learning on the job’

Joe Root’s 99 not out led England to a four-wicket win over India in the second ODI at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on 18 June. The result came in a low-scoring game where England chased 234 in the 45th over under tricky conditions.

What happened in Cardiff?

Root anchored England’s chase with a chanceless 99 off 111 balls. His innings featured sharp strike rotation and late pick-ups against a disciplined Indian attack. The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals but kept plugging away. Sam Curran’s unbeaten 27 sealed the win with five balls to spare.

India’s top order struggled against England’s pace trio. Virat Kohli top-scored with 65 but found little support. The tourists were bowled out for 233 after electing to bat first. Rehan Ahmed took 3-48 in a breakthrough debut ODI spell.

Why it matters for Joe Root

Root, 35, said England’s young batters lack 50-over experience. He pointed to a 400-match gap in List A cricket between England’s top six and India’s counterparts. The One-Day Cup now overlaps with The Hundred, reducing domestic 50-over exposure.

“Anyone coming into this team does not have the wealth of experience in 50-over cricket,” Root said. “There’s no grounding before you reach this level like elsewhere in the world.” He stressed the need to adapt quickly to different surfaces and pressure.

England’s top order remains unsettled. Jacob Bethell has yet to nail down an opening spot alongside Ben Duckett. Root’s century masked the struggle to build consistent starts.

What comes next for England?

England sit eighth in the ODI rankings. They need to stay in the top nine to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Their inconsistency cost them the series opener at Edgbaston.

Root remains hopeful recent form will be judged fairly. “We’ve adapted well in the past few months,” he said. “Sri Lanka earlier this year, we got things wrong but learned fast and won the series.” He cited Edgbaston as a lesson in reading conditions quicker.

England face India again at Trent Bridge on 22 June. A series win would boost their confidence ahead of the World Cup cycle. Root’s leadership and batting will be pivotal in closing the experience gap.