Cardiff: Joe Root guides England to victory against India, levels ODI series

By George Aldridge — 17 July 2026 — 3 min read

England secured a four-wicket victory over India in the second one-day international at Cardiff, levelling the series ahead of the decider at Lord’s. The win was largely attributed to Joe Root’s unbeaten 99, which helped his side chase down India’s target of 234.

The match, played on a challenging surface, saw England reach their target in the 45th over. Root’s innings was characterized by strike rotation and careful shot selection, contrasting with some of the more aggressive batting styles seen in modern limited-overs cricket. This performance was crucial after England had slipped to 94 for four inside the 20th over.

Learning on the Job

Following the victory, Root commented on the challenges faced by younger players in the England squad due to a lack of exposure to 50-over cricket. He noted that the domestic One-Day Cup now often serves as a developmental tournament, coinciding with The Hundred, which limits the experience available to emerging players in the longer white-ball format.

Root, 35, highlighted that the current England top six batters collectively have significantly less experience in List A cricket compared to their India counterparts, with a difference of over 400 matches. He emphasized that this means players are often forced to “learn on the job” at the international level.

“There is not that element of grounding that happens before you get to this level, which happens elsewhere around the world, so it’s understanding that there are going to be times where guys have to learn on the job and they have to learn quickly,” Root stated.

The former captain, along with Jos Buttler, are the only batters remaining from England’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad who have substantial ODI caps, with 191 and 201 respectively. Jacob Bethell, for instance, has only played 23 ODIs and has been opening for England, scoring 14 and four in his recent appearances.

Root stressed the importance of adaptability, especially on wickets that do not favour high-scoring games. He mentioned that while T20 cricket encourages manipulating the field and taking on the game, players need to develop the ability to “do it ugly and just get over the line” when conditions demand it.

Series Decider Ahead

The win in Cardiff was a much-needed boost for England, who are currently eighth in the world rankings. The team needs to maintain a top-nine position to secure automatic qualification for the next World Cup in 2027. The defeat in the series opener at Edgbaston marked their 14th loss in 20 ODI matches.

Root expressed optimism that the team would be judged on their recent ability to adapt and improve. He cited an earlier series against Sri Lanka where England learned quickly from initial mistakes to win the series, a feat not achieved by any other team in four years.

India’s innings saw Virat Kohli score 65 from 66 balls, while Shreyas Iyer contributed 66 from 71 balls. Jofra Archer was a key performer with the ball for England, taking three wickets for 47 runs. Gus Atkinson also contributed with three wickets for 50 runs and later scored an unbeaten 23.

Despite Root being denied his 21st ODI century when Atkinson hit a boundary with three runs needed for victory, Root appeared unfazed, stating that “getting the win is what it’s all about.” The series now moves to Lord’s for the final match on Sunday, with both teams having everything to play for.

England captain Harry Brook, who scored 16, marshalled his bowlers effectively to skittle India for 233 in 44 overs. The upcoming match at Lord’s is anticipated to be a high-pressure game, offering England another opportunity to develop and understand different match situations ahead of the World Cup.

Source: bbc.com