England’s Test skipper Joe Root is likely to be rested for the three-match ODI series against India as the ECB is expected to continue with their rotation policy.
Root has been in sublime form with the bat in the recent past but he is likely to be rested.
The talisman hasn’t been named in England’s 16-man T20I squad and as it is not easy for the English board to make players travel once again to India if they go back to England due to the bio bubble.
Thus, the ECB is expected to name the same set of T20l players for the ODI squad with minor changes.
Meanwhile, Root had scored 426 runs in the two-Test matches against Sri Lanka at an average of 106. The linchpin continued his prime form as he scored 218 runs in the first innings of the first Test against India.
However, he could not deliver the goods in the second Test match against India as the visitors lost by a massive margin of 317 runs. Root could only return with scores of 6 and 33 in the second Test match.
Furthermore, the next two Test matches will be must-win for England if they need to qualify for the ICC Test Championship final at Lord’s. Thus, it is crucial that Root should be at his best for the tourists if they are to compete against the potent Indian team.
Joe Root has played 149 ODIs, in which he has scored 5962 runs at an impressive average of 50.10. In 18 ODIs against the Indian team, he has scored 728 runs at an average of 56, including three fifties and three hundred.
After the completion of the four-match Test series, India and England will take on each other in a five-match T20I series, which will be an ideal preparation for the 2021 T20 World Cup, which will also take place in India. The T20I series will begin from March 12 at Ahmedabad whereas the three-match ODI series will begin from March 23 in Pune.
