Root expects India to pose stiff challenge despite the absence of Kohli and Rohit

With over 13,000 Test runs, Root has the highest tally amongst lively gamers.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: Getty Images

For effectively over a decade, Joe Root and Virat Kohli had been spoken of as the finest batters in the world. With Kohli now having retired from Test cricket, Root said that he’ll “miss those battles” with Kohli.

“I’ve never been in competition with Virat. He is someone I’ve always admired, and thought, ‘Wow, what a player’. I’ll miss those battles we had on the field, but it provides opportunities for other players to try and put their mark on Test cricket,” Root mentioned in a media interplay organised by Sony Sports Network.

The Indian Test workforce, which takes on England in 5 Tests, will miss the providers of one other skilled batter in Rohit Sharma, who too has retired from the longest format. “Cricket is poorer without them being around. They are two Indian legends. They’ve done amazing things for Indian cricket for such a long period of time. It’ll be a slightly different look to the series, but we still expect it to be highly competitive,” Root mentioned.

Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play all 5 Tests, however when he does have ball in hand, the pacer presents a giant risk, Root mentioned.

“Every time he’s played, he’s had a huge impact. He is clearly going to be a big threat. We have to try and manage as best we can,” the England nice mentioned.

Root added that the key lies in enjoying the Indian assault as a complete, as a substitute of obsessing on Bumrah. “You can’t single out individual bowlers. You have a plan for every challenge and different bowler type. There will be times when he (Bumrah) is going to be hard work, and we’re going to have to work through that. And when we get opportunities to score, we’ve got to take it,” Root mentioned.

The 34-year-old shouldn’t be a fan of the proposed transfer to change Tests to a four-day affairs. According to a report in The Guardian, the ICC is prepared to sanction four-day Tests in the WTC to assist smaller nations to play extra video games.

“I don’t really understand why you’d need to change it to four days. Coming from England where it rains a lot, you’re basically asking for more draws, which nobody wants. It doesn’t really make sense to me. If you look at some of the greatest Tests of all time, they go right down to the wire,” Root mentioned.

(Watch India tour of England from June 20 onwards reside on Sony Sports Ten 1 & Sony Sports Ten 5 channels)