ENG vs IND 2018, 2nd ODI: Centurion Joe Root Confident after Tackling Kuldeep Yadav

England had their back against the wall when they took on India in the second ODI on Saturday. It was a do-or-die clash for them, and the odds were firmly stacked against them.

England unsettled by Kuldeep

In three of the fours games so far (three T20Is and one ODI), India had thoroughly dominated the hosts. One of the reasons behind India’s domination was the Englishmen’s struggles against Kuldeep Yadav. The English batsmen had looked utterly clueless against the chinaman spinner.

Yadav had brutally exposed England’s frailties against spin with two career-best spells. In the first T20I, it was his five-wicket haul that helped India take the lead. The hosts managed to handle Kuldeep well in the following game, as the spinner went wicketless for 34 runs.

However, Kuldeep once again tormented England in the first ODI. Asked to bat first, England were off to a good start. Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy added 71 runs in ten overs. However, the game turned on its head once Kohli introduced Kuldeep to the attack.

He dismissed Roy on the very second ball of his first over. The tweaker then went on dismiss Bairstow, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and David Willey to finish with career-best figures of six for 25.

But England defied all the odds to come out with flying colours in the must-win clash. What would have pleased them more than the series-levelling victory was the fact that they managed to handle Kuldeep?

Joe confident of handling Kuldeep

Led by Joe Root’s fighting century, England posted a daunting 322 for seven on a tough Lord’s pitch. In reply, India were all out for just 236.

Kuldeep threatened to run through England’s lineup once again when he dismissed both England openers in quick succession. However, Root and Eoin Morgan added 103 runs to keep England on track for a good total. Root remained till the very end, scoring 113 to help England post a good total.

Speaking after the game, Root, who got dismissed twice by Kuldeep in the last three games, said he was confident of picking up the India spinner.

“I have only faced four balls against him in the last couple of games. But ultimately you have got to trust your game and your technique, and I felt that the four balls I did face I thought I was picking him okay. So it was more about spending some time out there and trusting the way I play spin. I haven’t faced much of his type of bowling but having a few overs under my belt gave me quite a lot of confidence,” explained Root.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep’s performances should stand him in good stead when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the five-Test series.

When Root was asked about it, he said the Test series is far of his mind as of now.

“You are always trying to learn as a player and always trying to pick things up when you next play someone, whether individuals or a team. I don’t think it’s about looking too far forward in terms of Test cricket just yet with the game on Tuesday. For me having not faced a lot of Kuldeep, for example, it was about picking as many cues up as possible throughout and makes sure I don’t get caught cold in Leeds if I start against spin.

“It might work out if he is in Test squad and it could hold me in good stead. Ultimately it is about making sure when we come to Headingley game we are ready and prepared for that,” he said.

With the series nicely set up for the final game on Tuesday, Root fired a warning to India,

“That Ruthless side of this one day team came out today and that was something you have seen more and more with this group of guys. Hopefully, we can back up and finish the series strong now.”