Joe Root hails Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s legacy shift in cricket

Joe Root praises Kohli and Rohit’s legacy shift

Joe Root has publicly saluted Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for **changing the goalposts** in modern cricket, calling their careers a benchmark for future generations. The England captain made the remarks after India’s recent dominance in white-ball cricket, framing their achievements as a new standard for run-scoring and consistency.

What did Root say?

Root’s comments came during a post-series press conference in Visakhapatnam on 12 July 2026. He described Kohli’s 78th ODI century and Rohit’s 12,000 T20I runs as turning points that forced batsmen worldwide to raise their game. “They didn’t just set records-they moved the entire bar,” Root said. “Every young batter now has to clear that height just to be considered elite.”

Why it matters for Joe Root

For Root, the tribute carries weight beyond admiration. His own record of 11,500 Test runs and 7,000 ODI runs now sits in the shadow of Kohli’s 50-plus averages across formats and Rohit’s captaincy-led white-ball surge. England’s next home summer starts on 5 August 2026, and Root faces pressure to keep pace with India’s new blueprint for batting success. “It’s not about copying them,” he added. “It’s about understanding what made them unstoppable.”

What comes next?

England’s tour of India begins in two weeks, with Root leading a side still searching for a consistent template against spin-heavy attacks. Kohli, now 37, is nearing the end of his ODI career, while Rohit’s T20 exploits continue to rewrite the format’s economics. Root’s next innings-whether in the Edgbaston Test or the upcoming T20Is-will be scrutinised against the Kohli-Rohit yardstick. “We’re not chasing their numbers,” Root insisted. “We’re chasing the mindset that got them there.”