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[Watch] When Joe Root Humbled Virat Kohli And Co. With Famous Bat Drop Century

Joe Root scored a series-winning ton against India in the third ODI (x.com)Joe Root scored a series-winning ton against India in the third ODI (x.com)

Joe Root’s consistent brilliance has made him a cornerstone of England’s batting lineup, showcasing his prolificacy across all formats of the game. Back in July 2018 during India’s all-format tour of England, the cricketer unfurled one of his best ODI knocks in a series-winning cause in the decider at Headingley, Leeds.

With series levelled at 1-1, Joe Root pounded 100 unbeaten runs and reached the milestone figure through a winning hit off Hardik Pandya. Through the course of his run-chase masterclass, Root also shattered numerous English records and bagged the ‘Player of the Series’ award.

When Joe Root humbled Virat Kohli and co.

After losing the first ODI at Trent Bridge by eight wickets to concede the opening lead to Team India, hosts England bounced back at Lord’s to enforce a decider. Joe Root starred in England’s emphatic 86-run win by scoring an unbeaten 113 off 116 balls in the game, thus fueling his team’s match-winning total of 322-7 upfront.


In the third ODI at Headingley on July 17, Root belted another century, this time in a successful run-chase of 257 after arriving to the crease at 43-1. Defying the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, the prolific English batter flogged 10 boundaries and swatted the winning hit towards the leg side off Hardik Pandya.

The innings, marking Joe Root’s 13th ODI hundred and second in succession, helped him surpass then-skipper Eoin Morgan to become England’s leading run-scorer in the format. The cricketer celebrated the occasion with a famous bat-drop moment in front of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, and he was fittingly declared ‘Player of the Series’ for his twin centuries.

As of July 2024, Joe Root has tallied 6,522 runs in 160 ODI innings at a splendid average of 47.60. The right-hander has pounded 16 centuries in all, and 39 additional scores of fifty or more.