Joe Root, England ka reliable batsman, phir se apne one-day international (ODI) game mein top form mein laut aaya hai. Aur is baar is comeback ke peeche ek alag hi emotion chhupa hai — guilt. 34 saal ke Yorkshire ke Root ne khud confess kiya hai ki unke recent dhamakedaar performances ka reason hai unki feeling of letting down ex-ODI captain Jos Buttler. Records todne ke saath Root ne na sirf apni legacy mazboot ki hai, balki naye captain Harry Brook ko bhi poora support diya hai.
West Indies ke against recent series mein Root ne kamaal kar diya. Unhone 7,000 ODI runs cross kiye, England ke sabse zyada ODI runs banane wale player ban gaye, aur Cardiff mein sabse badi run chase lead ki. Is series mein unhone West Indies ke khilaaf 1,000 runs bhi complete kiye — ek rare achievement jo unki dominance ko dikhata hai. England Cricket ne X (Twitter) par is moment ko celebrate bhi kiya.
Guilt se Mila Motivation
Root ne openly bola ki unka comeback sirf cricket ka nahi, ek personal journey ka part bhi hai. 2023 ke ODI World Cup ke flop campaign ke baad, jahan England apna 2019 ka title defend nahi kar paya, Root ko laga ki unhone Buttler ko disappoint kiya. “Mujhe laga maine Jos ko neecha dikhaya,” Root ne ek press conference mein bola. “Ek senior player ke roop mein mujhe team ko zyada support karna chahiye tha. Wahi guilt mujhe motivate karta raha comeback ke liye.”
Iss baar Root sirf elegant nahi, aggressive bhi hai. 2025 mein unka ek career-best ODI score bhi aaya. 34 ke age mein, jab ODI cricket zyada power-hitters ka game ban chuka hai, Root ka technical excellence aur nayi batting approach unki mehnat aur hunger ko dikhata hai.
Records Todna, Legacy Banana
Root ne West Indies series mein jo stats produce kiye woh insane hai. Unhone Eoin Morgan ka record tod diya aur England ke sabse zyada ODI runs scorer ban gaye. Cardiff ki historic chase mein unka calm century match-winner sabit hua. Aur ek opponent — West Indies — ke khilaaf 1,000 runs banana modern era mein kaafi rare hai.
Yeh sab sirf numbers nahi, yeh dikhata hai ki Root ne kaise apna game evolve kiya hai. T20 influence ke baad ODI ka pace badal gaya hai, aur Root ne uss trend ko adapt kar liya hai. Critics jo unki ODI jagah pe question uthate the, ab chup ho gaye hain. Root ne prove kar diya — class permanent hoti hai.
Brook ke Captaincy Ko Full Support
Root ke comeback ke saath unki leadership spirit bhi shine kar rahi hai. Unhone openly naye captain Harry Brook ko support kiya hai. 26-year-old Brook ko jab captain banaya gaya, kaafi log unsure the. Lekin West Indies ke khilaaf series jeet ke baad, Root ne bola:
“Harry brilliant raha hai. Uska cricketing brain sharp hai aur woh front se lead karta hai. Mujhe uske under khelna pasand aa raha hai aur main usse aur grow karte dekhna chahta hoon.”
Root khud England ke Test captain reh chuke hain (2017-2022), toh unka support kaafi meaningful hai. Field pe bhi Root Brook ko tactical tips dete dikhe, aur dressing room mein positivity spread karte hain. Brook ne bhi Root ki calm approach aur experience ka fayda uthaya hai. Cardiff wali run chase mein dono ki partnership iconic thi — Root ka rotation aur Brook ka firepower perfect combo tha.
Future Ki Tayari Mein Root Key Player
2027 World Cup se pehle England rebuild kar raha hai, aur Root ka form us process ka strong pillar ban gaya hai. Team transition mein hai, aur Root jaise senior player ka hona ek blessing hai. Brook captaincy sambhal raha hai, Root runs bana raha hai — perfect combo for future.
Off-field bhi Root grounded hai. Unhone bola, “Yeh records important nahi hain, England ke liye match jeetna important hai aur future ke liye team ko set karna.” Root ne sirf runs nahi banaye — unhone ek naye Root ko reinvent kiya hai.
Root ki journey — guilt se greatness tak — dikhata hai ki asli legend woh hota hai jo pressure mein aur nikalta hai. Aaj bhi woh na sirf England ke liye run machine hai, balki ek mentor bhi ban chuka hai. Root ab records nahi likh raha, ek legacy build kar raha hai.
