Joe Root Topples Virat Kohli in Exclusive ODI List After Match-Winning 99 vs India

Joe Root Topples Virat Kohli in Exclusive ODI List [Source: AFP]

England’s veteran batter Joe Root slammed an unbeaten 99 off 133 balls to help his team win the second ODI against India by 4 wickets. And his knock also helped him surpass his arch-rival, Virat Kohli, in an elite record.

The second ODI began with India batting first and struggling. Only Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer scored a half-century each to help the men in blue post a respectable total of 233 runs on the board.

However, the total was never going to be enough. Despite India getting rid of England openers on just 8 runs in the second inning, Joe Root stood like a wall from one end.

Joe Root betters Virat Kohli’s average in run chases

After the fall of early wickets, Joe Root stitched meaningful partnerships with Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Jos Buttler and Will Jacks to hammer a scintillating 99 off 133 balls.

Though he missed a well-deserved hundred, Root did surpass Virat Kohli in a special ODI record. Among batters with at least 2000 runs in successful ODI run chases, Root has the second-highest average of 91.59.

He surpassed Virat Kohli, who had an average of 89.07 while scoring 6235 runs in ODI run chases. The record for the highest average is held by former legendary India captain MS Dhoni. 

Players with highest average in successful ODI run chases (minimum 2000 runs)

Dhoni has scored 2,876 runs in ODI run chases with an average of 102.71 in 75 innings. Even though Dhoni has fewer runs compared to 75 innings, his average is still something out of reach for players like Root.

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Root creates a unique record with an unbeaten 99 

Interestingly, Joe Root missed out on a hundred and finished on 99* because teammate Gus Atkinson hit the winning boundary on the first ball of the 45th over. 

Since England reached the target immediately, Root had no chance to face another ball and complete his 21st ODI century. But he did land a rare record for himself.

Root is now the first England batter to get stranded on 99* in ODI format. Overall, he is the 17th batter in ODI history to finish unbeaten on 99. Not only that, but the veteran batter also crossed 1000 ODI runs against India, thus becoming the third England player to do so.

Root leaves with no regret

Having said that, Joe Root has no hard feelings despite missing his 21st ODI century during the second ODI against India. In a post-match interview, he admitted that winning mattered far more than his personal milestone. 

He revealed that he had actually encouraged Gus Atkinson to play his natural game instead of worrying about his century. Joe Root further explained that he would have been far more disappointed if England had lost than if he had missed out on a century. 

Although Root fell one run short of his 21st ODI hundred, his unbeaten 99 guided England to a four-wicket win, thus levelling the series. The third and series deciding ODI will be played on July 19 at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

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