Joe Root once again bailed England out of trouble, scoring a match-winning 99 not out against India in the second ODI. Root came to the crease with England at 0-1 after just one delivery and later 8-2, remaining unflappable as the team slipped further to 53-3 and 125-5.

Despite frustration from teammates leaving, Root stayed calm, ultimately guiding England to a series-levelling four-wicket victory. His innings, paced masterfully on a tricky surface, saw him score 99 from 133 balls. Captain Harry Brook lauded Root's performance, calling him a "phenomenal player" from whom others can learn.

Root's unbeaten century in the first ODI and 76 not out in the series opener highlight his consistent form, passing fifty in his last five ODI knocks. Analyst Mark Butcher noted Root's valuable wicket-taking approach, suggesting other England batters could learn from his resilience and willingness to 'guts it out'.