 "India vs England: Joe Root set to play his first ODI in 15 months as England announce playing XI for series opener")
Senior batter Joe Root will play his first ODI for England since the 2023 Cricket World Cup after he was named in the visitors’ playing XI for the first ODI against India. India and England will lock horns in the first ODI of the three-match series on Thursday , with the series opener taking place in Nagpur. Joe Root has not played an ODI for England since 11 November, 2023, when they took on Pakistan in their final league stage encounter of the World Cup.
‘He’s got a crucial role to play’: Buttler on Root
At the World Cup, Root had scored 276 runs from nine matches at an average of 30.66. England skipper Jos Buttler believes Joe Root will have an important role to play in the ODI series against India.
“Root is one of the great players of the game, so in all the formats here he’s obviously been a vital part of ODI cricket for England for a long time. He’s got loads of experience in ODI cricket, which would be great for some of the guys who haven’t played as much in our group. He’s been a vital player for England in all formats, and we feel like he’s got a crucial role for us to play in these games,” Buttler said at the pre-match press conference.
Root has scored 739 runs from 20 innings at an average of 43.37 against India. Overall, the 34-year-old has played 171 ODIs and scored 6522 runs at an average of 47.69. He also has 16 centuries and 39 fifties to his name in the 50-over format. Root will be looking to prove himself and get some game time with the bat in the series against India, which is the last assignment for both teams before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy that gets underway in Karachi on 19 February.
The Champions Trophy will take place in a hybrid model, with Pakistan and Dubai hosting the matches. India, who are in Group A along with Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh, will play all their matches in Dubai. England are in Group B along with Australia, South Africa and tournament debutants South Africa.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEngland playing XI for first ODI vs India: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (Wicketkeeper), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, AdiL Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood.
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