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Root primed for Test series against 'brilliant' India

England batting icon says he's having the 'most fun' he has had in his career as he gears up for a big six months in England's whites. 

As England brace themselves for a highly anticipated home series against India, kicking off this week in Headingley, Joe Root is relishing the busy stretch of red-ball cricket. The England batting icon is revving up for what promise to be a thrilling few months, with the Ashes in Australia scheduled later this year.

"You can only be excited. These are the series you play for. The opportunities in front of us are epic," said Joe Root to former teammate Stuart Broad in a conversation on Sky Sports.

Since 2022, when he stepped down as Test skipper, Root has been England's most consistent run-scorer - amassing 3,117 runs at an average of 56.67 across 36 Tests. The 34-year-old concedes this period has been the most enjoyable of his career, with runs pouring off his bat.

"It has become the most fun time of my career. Playing the way we play, the environment that has been created. The job Ben [Stokes] and Brendon [McCullum] have done has been fabulous and so much fun has come with it.”

With England set to kickstart their new ICC World Test Championship cycle against India at home, Root is firmly focused on the task at hand, expecting a tough challenge a highly skilled Indian side.

"You know The Ashes is coming and you will be asked about it. People will be trying to relate stuff in the India series to that but you have a job to do against a brilliant team.

"You look at India's progression as a team across all formats and they have all bases covered - great seam attack, talented batters and a very strong spin attack.”

India are looking to win their first test series in England since 2007. On their last visit to England, the five-Test series ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

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Root believes while the visitors are strongly equipped to challenge in different conditions around the world, England's record at home puts them in a strong position.

"They are going to compete anywhere in the world but our record at home makes for a fantastic series. We will go into it with confidence but also with a huge amount of respect for what they will bring," said Root.

England and India will lock horns in the first of five Tests starting Friday, June 20 at Headingley.

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