Former India captain Anil Kumble has drawn a striking comparison between England batter Joe Root and India's two biggest names, suggesting that Root occupies the same elite tier as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the 50-over format. The legendary spinner highlighted how Root's technical approach and game awareness set him apart in England's otherwise aggressive batting setup during their ongoing ODI series against India.

Kumble was particularly impressed with Root's ability to rotate the strike and find gaps, describing him as incredibly reliable and aware of when to play aggressive shots and when to build momentum steadily.

"Joe Root is to England what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are to India. Root is the only batter in that England side who still plays with an old-school ODI mindset. The other batters came out attacking from the start, but Root took his time, anchored the innings, and brought calmness to the chase.

"His ability to rotate the strike and find gaps makes him incredibly reliable.

You know he won't play a risky shot at the wrong time. That kind of game awareness is invaluable," Kumble said on JioHotstar.

The veteran spinner then drew a contrast between Root and England captain Harry Brook. Brook's aggressive approach backfired against the delivery types on offer, while Root's classical method proved far more effective on a pitch offering bounce and movement.

"The difference between Harry Brook and Joe Root was evident. Brook tried to play T20 shots in conditions that didn't allow it, whereas Root produced a masterclass in ODI batting," he added.

Kumble then explained what separates batters of Root, Kohli, and Sharma's calibre from the rest.

"What makes Root, Kohli, and Rohit so successful is that their run-scoring looks effortless. They don't premeditate. They react to the ball. They play low-risk, high-reward cricket rather than high-risk, high-reward cricket. When you have that kind of class, grace, and mindset, it makes life easier for the entire team," Kumble concluded.

India will square off with England in the third and final ODI at Lord's, London, on Sunday, July 19.