Joe Root surpasses Eoin Morgan to become England's greatest ODI batter

England star batter Joe Root etched his name into cricketing history during the second ODI of the ongoing three-match series against Rohit Sharma-led India. Joe Root surpassed England skipper Eoin Morgan's record to solidify his status as the best batter for the national cricket team in One Day Internationals.

England openers gave a flying start in the second ODI match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, February 9. Ben Duckett and Phil Salt added 81 runs for the opening wicket in just 10.5 overs. Joe Root came to the crease after debutant spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Salt, who scored 26.

Joe Root Surpasses Eoin Morgan in Elite List of England Batters

Joe Root looked in full control against Indian spinners Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravindra Jadeja. However, he, while batting on 16 runs, survived an LBW appeal off Axar Patel’s bowling. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma opted not to take a review, but the replays on the big screen showed three reds.

The right-handed batter made the most of the lifeline and converted it into a half-century. Root completed his 40th half-century for the England team in the 50-over format. After reaching the milestone, he also surpassed Eoin Morgan to take the top spot for the most 50-plus scores for England in ODIs.

However, Joe Root failed to convert his fifty into a century in the match-winning encounter in the ongoing series. The batter was dismissed after scoring 69 runs off 72 balls, including 6 boundaries. He was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja's bowling for the second consecutive time in the ODI series.

Most 50+ Scores for England in ODIs:

Ravindra Jadeja Claims Three Wickets for 35 Runs in His Quota

At the time of writing, England are 272/6 after 47 overs. Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets, while Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Hardik Pandya have each claimed one wicket.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 following their four-wicket victory in the first ODI. A win in Cuttack would give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The India-England ODI in Cuttack generated significant excitement, resulting in a stampede-like situation outside the Barabati Stadium during the first day of offline ticket sales. Special buses were arranged to connect the stadium with Netaji Bus Terminal and the railway station for the spectators.

It was a scorching afternoon in Cuttack, with temperatures reaching 34°C, according to AccuWeather. To help spectators cope with the heat during the innings, the staff took special measures. Images and videos circulating on social media showed ground staff using a water spray to cool down the fans.

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