“No hiding place against India,” warns Joe Root ahead of Test series against India

Joe Root, England’s leading run scorer in Tests and former captain, has warned his side ahead of the Test series against India. Root has said that the team needs to be consistent if they want to have a chance against India.

Joe Root warns England to be wary

Speaking to Sky Sports, Joe Root said that England are good in their own conditions. But against India, there is no hiding place. “We are good in our own conditions but with India coming over for a five-match series there’s no hiding place. It’s a long old slog, you’ve got to be consistent. You’ve got to put in those match-winning performances time and time again,” Root said.

New WTC Cycle begins

The Test series that is scheduled to begin in June will also start the new World Test Championship cycle (2025-27). After qualifying for the finals of the first two cycles, India couldn’t do so in the last cycle. India suffered heavy losses against New Zealand at home and against Australia down under. This meant that India was out of contention for the title.

The World Test Championship is the only major ICC title that India hasn’t been able to win yet. While in the first cycle, India lost to New Zealand in the final, it was Australia in the second cycle. The Indian side couldn’t even qualify for the final in the third cycle. The final will be played between South Africa and Australia this time.

The England Challenge

Touring England has been tough for the Indian side. India last won a Test series there in 2007. Since then, India has maintained a good record against England in India. But the situation changes when the team tours. In the last series, however, it looked like India had an advantage. The Indian side led the series 2-1 in 2021 before the last Test match. However, the last match was called off due to a COVID-19 scare. When India played the remaining Test match, it came under the storm of Bazball. England chased down a mammoth total of 378 to draw the series 2-2.

Concerns for India

The Indian team has its own concerns ahead of the series. The forms of the two senior batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have not been optimal. Questions will be raised if they fail to do well in the series. Moreover, India will hope that star bowler Jasprit Bumrah achieves full fitness ahead of the series.

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