IND vs ENG: Root's robust 99 guides England to 4-wicket win over India in 2nd ODI to level series 1-1

Root anchors England to victory despite early collapse

Batting first, Indian batters crumbled and could only manage to post 233 on the board despite Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer's fifties. In reply, after the shaky start, Root shouldered England's chase with an unbeaten 99 off 133 balls to help his team clinch the issue with 35 balls to spare. 

Undeterred by the early carnage and the subsequent cheap dismissals of Sam Curran and Jos Buttler, Root put on a masterclass in defensive resilience and tactical adaptation. He stood firm through a gripping, low-scoring battle, eventually finding reliable late-order support from Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson to steer England home.

Root's flawless anchoring job ensured a comfortable victory for the hosts with 35 deliveries to spare. However, in a bittersweet finish, the former captain was denied a thoroughly deserved century when his batting partner, Atkinson, smashed the winning boundary with only three runs left to get.

Earlier, Kohli and Iyer's fifties spurred India to a 233-run total in 44 overs. The team’s batting struggles were compounded by an inexplicable middle-order collapse that saw four wickets vanish for just 15 runs over a chaotic 26-delivery stretch. A relentless Jofra Archer spearheaded the English bowling attack with a fiery display of 3/47, ably supported by Gus Atkinson (3/50) and Saqib Mahmood (2/52), who routinely dismantled the Indian batting line-up.

While Kohli played with elegant authority—smacking eight boundaries in his 66-ball 65, including a picture-perfect straight drive off Archer—it was a agonizing outing for former captain Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener spent a painful 47 balls scraping together just 26 runs, a labor that featured nine consecutive dot balls and ended with a meek dismissal. Earlier, after England captain Harry Brook opted to bowl first, young skipper Shubman Gill looked in fine touch with a brisk 31 off 30 balls before chipping a Gus Atkinson delivery to cover. Kohli quickly took over, asserting himself with a barrage of crisp drives and an uncharacteristic, powerful slog-sweep off Adil Rashid.

Though Kohli and Rohit stitched together a 60-run stand over ten overs, it was a partnership in name only. Kohli did all the heavy lifting while Rohit searched desperately for timing, looking increasingly vulnerable to left-arm angles and tight bowling. After failing to score off a full over from Sam Curran and struggling against Rashid, Rohit’s labored stay was finally cut short by Will Jacks, top-edging a half-hearted sweep straight to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

With the top order sliding, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer stepped up as India’s batting savior, crafting a resilient 66 off 71 balls. Showing major improvements in his technique against high-quality short-pitched bowling, Iyer’s standout moment came when he deftly used his wrists to pull Archer over the ropes for a spectacular six to bring up his half-century. He found a reliable partner in Kohli, with the pair putting on 67 runs for the third wicket. However, just as the partnership looked threatening, a sharp, rising delivery from Archer caught Kohli’s leading edge, sending a simple catch ballooning to third man.

Once Kohli departed, the wheels completely fell off the Indian innings. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan fell for just one, undone by extra bounce from a gentle Sam Curran bouncer. The lower-middle order offered no resistance, as Washington Sundar (2), Axar Patel (1), and Shivam Dube (0) were dismissed in quick succession, looking like sitting ducks against England's disciplined pace attack. From a promising position, India plummeted to 194/7, leaving Iyer stranded without any meaningful support and putting an early end to hopes of a highly competitive total.