Joe Root was one run short of an unbeaten century as England levelled their ODI series with India at 1-1, triumphing by four wickets in Cardiff on Thursday.

England had to rely almost exclusively on Root as they chased down a target of 234 with 35 balls in hand, with no other home batter scoring more than 30 runs.

India had themselves been shaky with the bat, with only knocks of 65 from Virat Kohli and 66 from Shreyas Iyer averting a complete collapse in their innings.

Kohli's dismissal – which came via Adil Rashid's catch off a Jofra Archer delivery in the 32nd over – came after he had steered India to 178-3, finally giving England a much-needed opening.

Archer finished with figures of 3-47 after accounting for Axar Patel (1) and Shivam Dube (0), though it was Gus Atkinson that dealt with the dangerous Iyer, also mopping up Prasidh Krishna three balls later to halt India at 233 all out.

England's chase started dismally as Jasprit Bumrah removed Ben Duckett from the very first ball, and the hosts would then find themselves 8-2 and 53-3.

But even as the wickets continued to fall with some regularity around him, Root stood firm with a resilient knock that started with the second ball of the innings and ended with the 35-year-old just short of a ton, watching from the other end of the crease as Atkinson (23*) thrashed four boundaries to get the job done.   

England will now have a chance to snatch a series victory when the team reconvene at Lord's on Sunday, with that being the hosts' final white-ball assignment until they host Sri Lanka in September.

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Root the cool head England need

England came into Thursday's match under pressure, having lost 13 of their last 19 ODIs since the start of 2025.

That form had led to suggestions that Brendon McCullum's position as the team's white-ball head coach may soon become untenable, following his removal from the Test leadership earlier this week. 

But Root provided a masterclass to steady the ship, with his steady 99 off 133 contrasting sharply with the erratic batting of captain Harry Brook, who will again be criticised for a reckless shot selection after scooping Gurnoor Brar's ball right into the hands of Ishan Kishan for 16.

Brook had been fortunate even prior to his messy exit, having lost grip of his bat while attempting one big swing and taken another two deliveries firmly in the abdomen after misjudging the length.

Root had 5 off 20 deliveries as he eased his way in, but he then went through the gears to reach his 50 off 75, with his cool approach enough for England to triumph in tough conditions.