Other teams will take confidence from India’s win in Australia: Joe Root

England Test skipper Joe Root feels India’s extraordinary series triumph in Australia will inspire other sides to do well away from home.

Despite losing the first Test in an embarrassing manner, and injury-ravaged Team India defied the odds to clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a 2-1 margin.

Praising India for their series win Down Under, Joe Root said in a press conference:

“A lot of sides around the world will look at that series in Australia and take huge amount of confidence from it. Huge credit to India for going there and winning. It’s a very difficult place to go and win. We all know that. Teams will see that and see that it’s possible to win away from home.”

🤲 @MSDhoni behind the stumps! 🤩 @Sachin_RT on the field! 🏏 @Root66 remembers his Test debutFull interview 📽👇 #R100T #INDvENG

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 3, 2021

According to Joe Root, Australia’s loss proves that home teams are under growing pressure too. The England skipper added that the challenging situations are also opportunities for players to make their chances count.

“It (pressure) will be the same when we turn up in England and host some brilliant sides coming over, and we should embrace that challenge. That should excite us. There are so many great opportunities that come with that. As a side, and as an individual, when you are given those opportunities, you must just try to maximize those,” he added.

England not heavily reliant on certain individuals anymore: Joe Root

Joe Root

Joe Root went on to add that the present England Test squad are not heavily reliant on certain individuals. The skipper praised his side's depth and said:

“One thing we have had in the most recent past is competition for places, bit more depth within our squad and not being heavily reliant on certain individuals, which might not have been the case a few years ago. It’s really an exciting time for the team, and guys have really got to grasp the opportunities if they get them.”

Joe Root will head into the India series on a high, having notched up brilliant scores of 228 and 186 in the two away Tests against Sri Lanka.

The first Test against India in Chennai will be the England captain’s 100th appearance in the longest format of the game. In 99 Tests, Joe Root has scored 8249 runs at an average of 49.39. He has 19 hundreds and 49 fifties to his name.

A message from our Test captain Joe Root following the sad passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore. pic.twitter.com/nDcMR4lCF5

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 3, 2021