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Joe Root needed only 1 run to claim his 21st ODI century. Instead of going for a single, he asked Gus Atkinson to hit the winning runs against India in Cardiff on July 16.
Missing a century deliberately by only 1 run has generated mixed reactions among the cricket fans across the globe. India captain Shubman Gill mentioned that he would prefer to score runs himself to complete the hundred, in contrast to Root's mindset.
India had a strong start with the new ball against England in Cardiff
The match was evenly balanced when Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna were operating the new ball in the first few overs of the second innings. While Bumrah clinched Ben Duckett for a duck, Krishna took Jacob Bethell’s wicket. England was down by a couple of wickets inside the powerplay, only for 8 runs.
Root and the England captain Harry Brook initiated the fightback against the Indian bowling attack after losing two early wickets in the form of their openers Duckett and Bethell. Brook was dismissed by another Indian pacer, Gurnoor Brar, for only 16, but Joe Root remained firm on the track to ensure the much-needed win for the England National Cricket Team.
Joe Root remained calm and firm on the pitch against India
He started his innings in a very watchful manner and accelerated when the time came. Instead of being in any hurry, he waited patiently and developed brief but effective partnerships with Sam Curran, Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Gus Atkinson, respectively.
By all means, Joe Root deserved the century. Without the unbeaten 99-run knock from 133 balls, England could not have chased down the target of 234. If India were able to win the match in Cardiff, then the 3-match ODI series would be claimed by the Shubman Gill-led side, as they claimed the opening match of the series.
Joe Root explains why he allowed Gus Atkinson to deny his century
England needed only 5 runs to win when Joe Root was on 99, with Gus Atkinson on the other end of the pitch. Atkinson took a single on the last ball of the 44th over and hit a four in the following over to end the match for England. England won the match by 4 wickets in 44.1 overs; Root remained not out for 99.
At the presentation ceremony, Root explained that he told Gus Atkinson to hit the winning runs as the win is the matter most for the team over his individual achievement.
“I told Atkinson to just get it done. If they want to set fields like that and give us a chance to win the game, then let's take it. It's all about winning, and there's no better feeling in cricket than being there at the end, chasing something down,” Root said to the broadcaster after the India vs England 2nd ODI match.
Root's expressions were completely different from Shubman Gill's comments. As Gill said (as quoted by TMS), "I would not have taken that single in the second last over" so that he could remain on strike to complete the ton.
With 5 needed and Joe Root on 99, Gus Atkinson took a single on the last ball of the 44th over
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) July 16, 2026
Atkinson hit a four in the next over to win the game with Joe Root on 99* 🫠 pic.twitter.com/9kirCaheIz
