'His Form Has Been The Most...': Gambhir Blames Joe Root For England's World Cup Woes
Joe Root has been in woeful form for England [AP Photo]
The World Cup 2023 has seen a dip in performance for the English cricket team, and former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes the underlying reason is seasoned batter, Joe Root's inconsistent form.
Gambhir opens up on Root's crucial role in England's struggles
Root, widely recognized for his impeccable technique and temperament, had kicked off the tournament with strong performances. His half-centuries against New Zealand and Bangladesh raised hopes of a dominant English campaign. However, as the matches progressed, his form took a concerning dip.
In the six matches he played, Root could muster only 175 runs, averaging 29.16 and striking at 93.08. His recent outing against India at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was particularly disheartening for English fans as he was dismissed for a golden duck.
Speaking to Star Sports, Gambhir pointed out Root's role as the bedrock of the English batting lineup. According to him, the seasoned batter, often seen as the anchor, provides stability, allowing the rest of the batting order the freedom to play with aggression.
“If you see England’s batting lineup, apart from Joe Root, all the other guys want to play aggressive cricket. It is the form of Joe Root that has been the most damaging thing for this batting lineup because this entire batting lineup revolves around him,” said Gambhir.
The former southpaw reckoned that with Root's recent dry spell, the entire lineup has appeared unsettled. He added that the challenge of navigating seaming and swinging deliveries, which Root usually tackles with aplomb, has become a glaring issue for the team.
“He was that anchor and glue who could bat from one end and the rest of the guys could actually play the way they wanted to. The moment Root hasn’t delivered, everyone gets exposed. Not a lot of guys have that ability to absorb the pressure of playing against the seaming and swinging balls,” added the Indian veteran.
The stark impact of Root's dismal form was evident in England's clash against India. Starting with a commendable 30-run partnership in the first 4.5 overs, courtesy of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, the team's momentum was abruptly halted by Jasprit Bumrah's twin dismissals of Malan and Root. Subsequently, the English side folded for just 129 runs in 34.5 overs.
This setback was not an isolated incident. England's campaign has been marred by five defeats in their six matches, positioning them at the bottom of the table with just two points and a net run rate of -1.652.
The challenges ahead for England remain significant. Their next clash is against the formidable Australian side scheduled for November 4 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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