# Joe Root’s all-format genius shines in England’s ODI series win over India 2026-08-08T11:48:04+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Joe Root scored 249 runs across three ODIs against India in mid-July 2026 without being dismissed, winning the Player-of-the-Series award as England took the series 2-1. His knocks included an unbeaten 76 in Birmingham, a grinding 99 not out in Cardiff, and a 48-ball 74 at Lord's featuring reverse-sweeps and reverse-scoops. Since January 2025, the 35-year-old has amassed 1304 ODI runs at an average of 81.5, the best among players with three or more innings. Root's revival follows a lean phase from 2020 to 2024, when he averaged just 28.95 in ODIs. England coach Brendon McCullum called him "some player" and a "blueprint" for others. Root, who leads the Test run charts for England with 14,114 runs at 50.58, has also returned as full-time Test captain after Ben Stokes' retirement. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Brendon McCullum, Cricket World Cup, England cricket, India tour of England 2026, Joe Root, ODI series Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/joe-roots-all-format-genius-shines-in-englands-odi-series-win-over-india/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/joe-roots-all-format-genius-shines-in-englands-odi-series-win-over-india/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.