IND vs ENG: Joe Root likely to skip the ODI series
England are likely to be without their star batsman Joe Root for the upcoming ODI series against India. Both the teams are currently involved in the four-match Test series. The series is currently locked at 1-1 and has two more games remaining. Following the Tests, India and England will lock horns in the limited-overs series consisting of five T20Is and three ODIs.
The Test series is scheduled to end on March 8 while the T20I series is scheduled to start March 12 and finish on March 20. The subsequent ODI series will be played from March 23 to 28. And Root is likely to miss the limited-overs series. The England Test captain was not named in the T20I squad earlier this month and is unlikely to be named in the ODI squad either.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Root is set to be rested once the Test series gets over as part of England’s ongoing rotation policy. Along with him, all-rounder Chris Woakes is set to be rested too. The England team-management remains committed to providing rest periods for their multi-format players on an ongoing basis as part of preparation plans for the busy year that will see them play the T20 World Cup before flying to Australia for the Ashes.
Recently, the likes of Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jonny Bairstow, James Anderson and Jos Buttler were rested. The report further stated that given the logistical difficulties of sending players in and out of the bio-bubble, England are likely to name a similar group of players from the T20I squad for the ODI series. As a result, Root is likely to miss out.
Joe Root in terrific form:
Joe Root has been in red-hot form with the bat in 2021. In the first three Tests of this year, the England skipper scored 228, 186 and 218. His first two knocks helped England clean sweep the two-match series in Sri Lanka while his third knock helped his side stun India by 227 runs in the first Test of the ongoing series.
Root faced a rare failure in the second Test, scoring 6 and 33 as India thrashed England by 317 runs to draw level in the series. The England batting mainstay will be looking to bounce back in the upcoming third Test.
