Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble expressed the opinion that Joe Root's significance for the England team is comparable to the influence exerted by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Indian cricket.
Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble expressed the opinion that Joe Root's significance for the England team is comparable to the influence exerted by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Indian cricket.
The legendary leg-spinner made these remarks after an experienced batsman played a brilliant but unfinished innings of 99 runs, which helped the hosts take the series lead at 1-1 following a victory in the second ODI match. This match concluded with a convincing four-match win.
Joe Root provided stability in the chase for 234 runs, playing a composed 99 not out off 133 deliveries, leading the team to triumph at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. This frontline veteran was just one run away from a deserved century when bowler Gus Atkinson hit the winning boundary with 35 balls remaining.
Commenting on Root's crucial innings, Kumble highlighted Root's traditional approach to ODIs and his unique ability to handle immense pressure. Kumble told Jio Hotstar: 'Joe Root is to England what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are to India. Root is the only batsman in this English team who still plays with old-school ODI mindset.'
He added that other batsmen started attacking from the beginning, whereas Root took his time, stabilized the innings, and brought calm to the chase.
Kumble contrasted Root's measured approach with the style of England captain Harry Brook, noting that the difficult pitch conditions demanded patience rather than pure aggression. He stated: 'The difference between Harry Brook and Joe Root was obvious. Brook tried to play in a T20 style in conditions that did not allow it, while Root demonstrated a masterclass in ODI cricket.'
The former Indian coach also compared Root's playing philosophy to modern greats Kohli and Rohit, acknowledging all three for their ability to score consistently without taking unnecessary risks. Kumble concluded: 'What makes Root, Kohli, and Rohit so successful is that their scoring looks effortless. They don't plan ahead; they react to the ball. They play low-risk, high-reward cricket. When you have that class, grace, and mindset, it makes life easier for the whole team.'
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers coach Andy Flower declined to participate in the race for the head coach position of the England national team after Brendan McCullum's departure, stating that he was satisfied with his current coaching role in the IPL franchise RCB and the The Hundred London Spirit team.
Ishan Kishan, who attracted attention during the T20 World Cup with his impactful performances against opponents, is currently facing difficulties in Europe. His tour of Europe has turned out to be more of a nightmare, as he is fighting for every run.
Despite Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer managing to score at times, Kishan's bat has remained silent. In matches against Ireland and England, Kishan scored 79 runs in six matches with an average of 13.16 and a strike rate of 108.21. The problem is not only the poor figures but also that he consistently loses wickets in the same manner. He has yet to adapt to the bounce and movement of European pitches.
In Belfast, playing against Ireland, Kishan scored 1 and 12 runs. Then, in the first T20I against England, he returned to the dressing room without a single run. In the second T20I in Manchester, he scored 49 runs off 40 balls, but could not maintain his rhythm afterward. In Nottingham, he scored 13 runs, and in Bristol, only 4 runs.
These figures are extremely disappointing for a player considered among the best in the world. His current slump is surprising, considering he was in the best form of his career just a few months ago. Before returning to the Indian squad, Kishan demonstrated powerful play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, hitting the bowlers hard and scoring 517 runs at a strike rate of 197.32, which helped Jharkhand win the title.
After this, when Kishan returned to the Indian team, his form did not wane. From January until the T20 World Cup 2026, he showed brilliant play, playing in 13 international T20 matches and scoring 532 runs at an average of 40.92 and a strike rate of 207.
Subsequently, in the IPL 2026, Kishan scored 602 runs at a strike rate of 182.42. However, as soon as he arrived in Europe, it seemed his game was affected by something. More concerning than his failure is the way he gets out of the game. In the last six matches, he has been dismissed twice via bowled and four times via caught.
His last three matches against England particularly demonstrate the story of a player who has failed to understand the extra bounce and ball movement in local conditions. In Manchester, when Kishan was approaching fifty, he attempted a big shot at a ball coming outside the off stump from Sam Curran. The ball did not connect properly with the bat, and Liam Dawson easily caught it on the extra cover. In Nottingham, Kishan fell victim to English bowling tactics again: Josh Tongue bowled a short ball, and Kishan tried to play a pull shot but could not control the extra bounce and was caught in deep backward square leg.
The situation did not change in Bristol either. Josh Tongue bowled a medium-length ball that bounced outside the off stump, and Kishan again tried to pull the ball but hit the top edge, and Sam Curran caught it at short third man.
Three matches and three catches. Each time Kishan tried to put power into the ball, but the lack of control in English conditions proved fatal for him. Recently, Sanju Samson and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi have been the most discussed names in Indian cricket. While Kishan is in poor form, his problems remain unnoticed. However, the statistics reveal the complexity of his situation.
Kishan's poor performance also reflects the current state of the Indian team. After winning the T20 World Cup, a strong start in the new cycle was expected, but under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, the team has failed to win a single T20I match. First, Ireland achieved a historic feat by defeating India 2-0, and now England has won the series.
The failures of the batsmen are one of the main reasons for the current state of the Indian team. The fifth and final T20 match between India and England will take place in Southampton. For the Indian team, which lost the series, this match is a last chance to save face, and for Ishan Kishan, it is an opportunity to regain his lost rhythm.
