England vs India 2025: What should be India’s bowling plans to tackle Joe Root, one of Test cricket’s top scorers.
Since the start of 2023, Joe Root has smashed 2377 runs in 26 Tests at an average of nearly 58. He is the leading run-getter globally in this period, with eight centuries and 10 half-centuries. Many anticipated the former England captain to meet failure in the ‘Bazball’ era. Meanwhile, the veteran has evolved his game with constant success against various sides in different conditions.
Root is the base of England’s batting department. Whenever they are two down early, and it becomes a challenge to save the middle order against the new ball, he steps up with a golden performance. Of late, with his aggressive batting, he has countered the opponent’s pressure in a contrasting manner.
Joe Root- England’s familiar Test pillar
During India’s last five-match red series in 2021/22, Root was the leading run-getter with 737 runs at an average of 105.28. Keeping a distance of more than 300 runs from the second-highest run-getter on the list, he notched up four centuries and one fifty.
In the previous series in India at the start of 2024, the right-handed batter drilled 320 runs at a strike rate of 49.30. He plays the sweeps, reverse sweeps, drives, cuts, and punch shots. The Yorkshire batter, in recent years, has tended to be proactive against the seamers. On occasions when he decides to defend, it’s difficult to breach his technique in the game.
Undoubtedly, India’s team discussion has centred around this question: “What should be the plan of action against Root?”
Against the Blue Brigade, the former leader finds his beast mode in the longest format with 2846 runs in 55 innings. He carries an average of 58.08, shouldering 10 centuries and 11 half-centuries at the best score of 218 runs.
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Root in Tests at Leeds:
Joe Root’s performance in England’s conditions
Stokes and McCullum know the importance of huge scores on the board. And for that to happen, they need the Sheffield-born to stand up. His performance is aligned with the team’s success. In England’s Test victories, Root averages 64.21, while it drops down to 34.60 in defeats.
Joe Root’s documented weakness against pacers
Last year, Dimuth Karunaratne revealed how Sri Lanka planned to be less attacking against the number four. He reckoned ‘sometimes boring batters out can also be a tactic.’ Australia tried the plan during the 2023 Ashes when they set smart field placements for Root and pushed him to play an unnecessary big shot.
In his career, 38.7% of the batter’s dismissals have come in ‘caught.’ The 34-year-old has also been ‘bowled’ 62 times. That provides a chance for the Indian bowlers to keep the stumps in play early in his innings.
In England against the left-arm seamers, Root tends to get dismissed 19 times in 54 Test innings. He averages 46.4 and has collected 882 runs at a strike rate of 55.60. Once it comes against the right-arm pacers, the Yorkshire batter’s average goes up to 50.5 with 3987 runs. He has overall been dismissed 79 times in 131 innings.
In those conditions, the left-arm spinners have found it hard to get Root out. The experienced campaigner has averaged 113 against these bowlers in 41 innings with only seven dismissals. Meanwhile, the right-handed batter has an average of 60.3 against the right-arm spinners, who dismissed Root only thrice in the last five years in England.
Root’s Test average goes up to 75.2 against the wrist spinners in England.
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Jasprit Bumrah holds India’s plans against Joe Root
In the previous series, when Joe Root travelled to India, the home pacers frequently dismissed the batter. Jasprit Bumrah was bowling several in-swinging deliveries to challenge the veteran’s inside edge.
The premier Indian pacer has dismissed the former England skipper five times in England during the red-ball fixtures. In reply, Root has averaged 40 besides smashing 24 boundaries.
Bumrah vs Root
If Bumrah doesn’t work out, then the second plan will be Mohammed Siraj, who doesn’t love this battle. In Root’s home country, the Hyderabad-born pacer averages 197 against the batter. Both Prasidh Krishna and uncapped Arshdeep Singh are yet to be in the Test head-to-heads.
The Shubman Gill-led side needs to be careful with the line and lengths early in his innings. Once he finds his rhythm, it’s exceptionally difficult to break. Rather than focusing on the batter, the two-time WTC runners-up should focus on their tactics.
Due to its weight, the Dukes ball doesn’t lose its shine quickly. Once the laker comes out, it tends to swing a lot in England. That’s where the Blue Brigade need to be smart with the bowling changes.
For India, in the last two away series, Joe Root has stood out as the villain. It’s another golden opportunity to put the brakes on the batter’s love affair against India.
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