Joe Root: India present difficult challenge than England’s recent opponents

England batsman Joe Root feels that India is a different side from the ones they have competed off late in ODI cricket. They possess great strength in all departments and will look to dominate after the 2-1 T20 series victory against England.

England had a memorable time facing Australia in their previous ODI series. They produced a 5-0 whitewash to humiliate their arch rivals. In comparison to a depleted Aussie side, India will be confident and aggressive from the word go. And with the ongoing heat wave in recent days, the pitches will suit Indian spinners which will cause further headache to Eoin Morgan and his side.

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“India have been a really strong team in this format for a long time. They won (ODI series) last time they came over here. I know it was a very different side they played against but it is a really good marker to see where we are. We have played some really strong cricket in one day format and India are right up there as one of the best one-day sides in the world. They present different challenges to the ones we have recently faced but we know that if we play to our potential, keep learning and improving we will be a difficult side to play especially at home,” Joe Root said.

It will be an important series for Joe Root as he failed miserably against India’s wrist spinners in the first two T20’s and was dropped in the third T20 International. He stays an important part of the England ODI set up but its about time that he is back in form.

“I fully understood the decision. It can’t have been an easy one for them to make but that is part and parcel of having a really strong squad. You have to take that. It is always difficult being left out and you never like that as a player. Having been captain myself I know how hard it can be.”, said Root.