In the last few years, when the batting form of some of the top batters in the world has dwindled, Joe Root has brought a new level of consistency in his game. And as a result, he is sitting on 13,006 Test runs in 153 matches at an average of 50.80, including 36 tons and 65 fifties.
Joe Root — The Indian Tormentor
Without any doubt, he is the biggest threat to Team India, having scored 2846 vs the opposition in only 30 matches, at an average of 58.08, which loosely means, none of the bowlers have really troubled him. So, it only becomes worthwhile to see, what kind of record does he have against all the Indian bowlers, that have been picked for the England tour.
| Bowler | Balls Faced | Runs Scored | Dismissals | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | 559 | 286 | 9 | 31.8 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 349 | 236 | 2 | 118 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 1142 | 499 | 8 | 62.4 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 143 | 55 | 1 | 55 |
| Shardul Thakur | 96 | 63 | 2 | 31.5 |
Let’s start with the best.. Jasprit Bumrah has been Root’s nemesis and has dismissed him 9 times in the longest format. In all the matches played, Root has scored 286 runs against the pacer, and averages only 31.8. So definitely Bumrah is our best bet. Moving on to Mohammed Siraj, this is where things get interesting.
Jasprit Bumrah Excellent Against Star Batter
In the 349 deliveries against Siraj, Root has gone on to score 236 runs, getting out only twice. That means a staggering average of 118. Against Ravindra Jadeja, who is India’s premier spinner on the tour — the batter has faced 1142 deliveries, scoring 499 runs and getting out 8 times. That still means an average of 62.
Kuldeep Yadav, whose possibility of playing is fairly less, has bowled 143 deliveries at him, and has conceded 55 runs. One wicket here means an average of 55. Washington Sundar has bowled 55 balls at Root where he hasn’t dismissed him, and instead given away 46 runs.
Other Bowlers Not Quite Effective
Out of all of these, there is a certain Shardul Thakur, who has managed to trouble Root. At the 96 deliveries bowled at the batsman, he has managed to dismiss him twice, for an average of 31.5. So, it has to be either Shardul or Bumrah, who need to get the dangerman.
There are others in the squad too, but for now it looks highly unlikely that they will get a chance in the first Test. While this could be a clear indication as to where Root’s weaknesses lie, it also signals that India will also be have to be careful, in the matches where Jasprit Bumrah will not play.
