Joe Root has issued a strong message to Team India ahead of their tour of England, emphasizing the strength of the English side on their home turf. With the five-Test series set to begin on June 20, 2025, at Headingley, Leeds, Root's words carry weight as England looks to maintain its dominant record at home.
Root, a veteran of the English team and one of the leading run-scorers in Test cricket, acknowledged the formidable challenge that India poses. He noted India's progression across all formats of the game and praised their well-rounded attack, which includes a potent seam and spin bowling arsenal, along with talented batters. Despite the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have retired from Test cricket, Root remains wary of the young Indian side led by Shubman Gill.
"You look at India's progression as a team across all formats and they have all bases covered – great seam attack, talented batters and a very strong spin attack," Root stated. "They are going to compete anywhere in the world but our record at home makes for a fantastic series. We will go into it with confidence but also with a huge amount of respect for what they will bring."
England's home record in Test cricket is indeed something to be reckoned with. They have historically been a tough team to beat in their own conditions, leveraging the familiarity with the pitches and the strong support from the home crowd. This confidence is further amplified by the "Bazball" approach, a term used to describe England's aggressive and fearless approach to Test cricket under the guidance of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. While Root believes that "Bazball" might not be the perfect description, he acknowledges the significant change in their approach, emphasizing that there is more method to it than perceived.
Root also highlighted the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the English team, with the India series followed by the Ashes in Australia. He stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate task against India before thinking about the Ashes. “You know The Ashes is coming and you will be asked about it. People will be trying to relate stuff in the India series to that but you have a job to do against a brilliant team," Root added.
The upcoming series holds particular significance as it marks the start of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for India. With a new captain in Shubman Gill and without the experience of Kohli and Sharma, India will be aiming to start this new era on a positive note. Meanwhile, Root himself is on the cusp of achieving several milestones. He needs 373 runs to surpass Ricky Ponting and become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. He also has a remarkable record against India, with 2,846 runs in 30 Tests, including 10 centuries.
The five-Test series between England and India is scheduled to take place at iconic venues across England. The first Test will be held in Leeds, followed by matches at Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford and The Oval.
As both teams prepare for this highly anticipated series, Joe Root's warning serves as a reminder of England's strength at home and sets the stage for an exciting battle between two of the world's top Test teams.
