With just over a year to go, R Ashwin has backed Joe Root for a recall to the England squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
England's spin worries
England were 83-1 in the ninth over in the third T20I of the five-match series against India, at Rajkot, when Varun Chakravarthy had Jos Buttler caught behind. England collapsed against spin to 127-8 after that. Varun (5-24) was the destoryer-in-chief, while Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi claimed a wicket apiece. They later recovered to 171-9.
This was the third time in as many T20Is that England have capitulated against spin. Varun (3-23), Axar (2-22), and Bishnoi (4-0-22-0) had bowled them out for 132 in the first game, at Kolkata. In the second, at Chennai, they made 165-9 against Varun (2-38), Axar (2-32), and Bishnoi (4-0-27-0), while Washington Sundar and Abhishek Sharma chipped in with a wicket apiece in their only overs.
Across the three matches, the Indian spinners have taken 18 wickets at 16.27 while going for 7.51 runs per over. They have also sent down 39 of the 60 overs the hosts have bowled.
Root's spectacular run in SA20
Towards the end of England's innings in the third T20I, R Ashwin posted an image of his former Rajasthan Royals teammate Joe Root and the latter’s first five scores for the Paarl Royals in reverse order – 6, 92*, 15, 26, 62* in the 2025 SA20.
After that sequence, Root had made 0, 78 not out, and 0 for Paarl (who are owned by the owners of the Rajasthan Royals). His season tally stands at 279 runs at 55.80 and a strike rate of 140. Across all teams, only Paarl teammate Lhuan-dre Pretorius (301) has more runs.
“2026 T20 World Cup in India and this now will be the most pertinent tweet,” added Ashwin.
What is Root's T20 record in India?
From 13 T20s in India – 10 for England until 2016-17, three for the Rajasthan Royals in 2023 – Root has 385 runs at 48.12 at 125.81. He also opened bowling in the 2016 T20 World Cup final in Kolkata, where he famously dismissed both West Indian openers.
Root has been very consistent against spin in the country, averaging 45.42 from 15 Tests and 40.78 from 16 ODIs. There is little doubt over his credentials against spin.
