Joe Root reveals chat with Gus Atkinson that left him stranded on 99
Joe Root receives the Player of the Match award (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 17 Jul 2026, 05:04 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Joe Root has opened up about his conversation with Gus Atkinson during the second ODI, when he was just one run away from completing his 21st century in the format. Root revealed that he urged Atkinson to go for the winning shot rather than worry about his milestone, especially after India captain Shubman Gill brought all his fielders up to prevent strike rotation.
"I told him to just get it done," Root was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. "If they want to set fields like that and give us a chance to win the game, then let's take it. It's all about winning and there's no better feeling in cricket than being there at the end you chase something down."
The decisive moment came in the 45th over, with England needing just four runs to win. Prasidh Krishna’s first ball was called wide, prompting Gill to bring the field up. Root had a quick word with Atkinson before Krishna ran in again, and the pace-bowling allrounder responded with a fierce pull that raced to the boundary.
Do you reckon Rooty said to Gus ‘Just win it?’ 🐐
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 17, 2026
A big hug for our dressing room attendant Roger as well ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Tw5VPOh5gf
Root was left unbeaten on 99, but celebrated as jubilantly as any English fan at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. In doing so, he became the first English batter to finish on 99 not out in ODIs, though he admitted the team result mattered far more than his personal landmark.
Everything you need to know about Joe Root, in one sentence ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 16, 2026
"It would've felt a lot worse if we'd lost," Root added. "That's why you play to win. And for us to have that carrot ahead of us winning at Lord's and the chance to beat the number one team in the world is really exciting.
"I'm delighted that we found a way of doing it ugly and doing it in a way that probably doesn't suit a lot of the other guys and what they're used to doing and how they're used to playing. It shapes us up really well with what's to come, and a great experience of a big pressure game ahead of a World Cup in 2027."