‘Joe Root Is England’s Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma…’: Anil Kumble’s Big Verdict After Cardiff Masterclass

LONDON: Former India captain Anil Kumble has showered praise on Joe Root, comparing the England batting star to Indian icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma following his brilliant performance in the second ODI against India.

Root played a composed unbeaten 99 off 133 deliveries at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, guiding England to a crucial victory and helping the hosts level the three-match ODI series at 1-1. While England’s aggressive batting unit struggled to adapt to the conditions, Root once again demonstrated why experience and patience remain priceless in the 50-over format.

Speaking after the match, Kumble said Root plays a unique role in England’s batting line-up, much like Kohli and Rohit have done for India over the years.”Joe Root is to England what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are to India. Root is the only batter in that England side who still plays with an old-school ODI mindset,” Kumble said while speaking on JioHotstar.

According to Kumble, Root’s biggest strength lies in his ability to absorb pressure, rotate the strike consistently, and accelerate only when the situation demands.

‘Root brings calmness to England’s batting’

Kumble pointed out that while several England batters looked to dominate from the very first ball, Root patiently built his innings before taking control of the chase.

He praised the former England captain’s awareness of match situations, saying his knack for finding gaps and avoiding unnecessary risks makes him one of the most dependable ODI batters in world cricket.

Unlike many modern batters who rely heavily on power-hitting, Root continues to trust classical strokeplay, a quality Kumble believes is becoming increasingly rare in contemporary limited-overs cricket.

ALSO READ: Rohit Sharma Sends Strong Fitness Warning Ahead of England ODIs… India Captain Begins Batting Grind After Family Break

Kumble highlights contrast with Harry Brook

The legendary spinner also compared Root’s innings with that of England captain Harry Brook, whose aggressive approach failed to produce the desired result.

According to Kumble, Brook attempted attacking shots suited to T20 cricket, despite the surface offering movement and bounce for the bowlers. Root, on the other hand, assessed the conditions perfectly and built his innings around timing, placement and strike rotation.

Kumble described Root’s knock as a textbook example of how ODI cricket should be played under challenging conditions.

What makes Root, Kohli and Rohit special?

Kumble believes the biggest similarity between Joe Root, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma is their ability to score runs without appearing to force the game.

He explained that all three batters rely on reading the ball rather than premeditating shots, allowing them to minimise risk while maintaining a healthy scoring rate.

According to the former India captain, their approach revolves around low-risk, high-reward cricket, making them exceptionally consistent across different conditions and formats.

Series heads to Lord’s decider

With England’s victory in Cardiff, the three-match ODI series is now evenly poised at 1-1.

The decisive third and final ODI will be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Sunday, July 19, where both teams will battle for the series win.

After Root’s near-century and Kumble’s glowing praise, all eyes will now be on whether England’s batting mainstay can once again deliver on the biggest stage, while India will hope stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma respond with match-winning performances of their own.