‘You can not write them off just because of their age’ - Joe Root backs star Indian batting duo

Joe Root (Source: Twitter)

England batter Joe Root recently made a bold statement, claiming that legendary batters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cannot be dismissed as a threat just because they have hit a certain age. Root argues that the prolific Indian duo is still working their magic, evident in their outstanding performances in the Asia Cup 2023. The Asia Cup 2023 serves as a testament to this fact. Despite being seasoned cricketers, Kohli and Sharma continue to dominate the field as leading run scorers. Their ability to adapt to changing conditions and deliver consistent performances showcases their unwavering commitment to excellence.

While it is true that physical abilities may diminish over time, experience and skill can compensate for any potential decline. Kohli and Sharma have proven time and again that they possess both experience and skill in abundance. Citing Chris Gayle and James Anderson as examples of why age should not be a criteria for success, Joe Root said in an interview.  "I think it's very dangerous just to write off players like Virat and Rohit because of their age. Look at how long Chris Gayle, for example, played T20 cricket. Some of the best players in the world have gone longer, especially in T20 cricket, and have been wonderful with their performances. As long as you're fit, you go on and play."

Root added, "Jimmy Anderson is a perfect example you look at. He is over 40, he's still performing exceptionally well. We're very fortunate that we've not lost out on that because we think he's too old. He's still playing and he's still leading our attack. And we're using all that experience and skill to our advantage. We're seeing him as a talent and ability and a wonderful player on his own."

'Any young kid who watches Surya would want to go and replicate it' - Joe Root

Suryakumar Yadav was setting the T20I cricket world ablaze at this time last year. The right-handed batter has struggled to carry over the same form into ODIs despite adding a few more hundreds and having a successful 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). Suryakumar has had issues with his tempo in the format, however despite recent poor performance, he was selected for Team India's ODI World Cup squad.

Speaking about the Surya’s form and consistency Joe Root said,  "SKY's consistency is frightening. How he's managed to score so many hundreds in a short space of time, especially in the position in the order that he bats and how quickly he's done it. It's been remarkable really. And he's so difficult to bowl at because he hits it in such unusual areas. Any young kid who watches him would want to go and replicate it. It looks so much fun to do and to play."

"For Virat, Sachin was a massive inspiration for him," Root added. "That's one of the greatest things in this sport at this level. You inspire young children to pick up a bat and a ball and want to go and do great things in the game. Same thing SKY is doing. A lot of youngsters are looking up to him and doing something different just like him."