Following England’s disastrous campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has backed Joe Root to take over as the country’s next white-ball captain. During England’s final group-stage clash against South Africa, Kaif made a strong statement about the future of England’s limited-overs setup, stating, “Follow him if you want to play the ODI format.”
A forgettable run for England:
England started their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia where they posted a giant target of 351 runs but the English bowlers failed to defend the target as Australia chased down the target with almost 2 overs to spare. In a must win match against Afghanistan, England batters once again displayed their vulnerabilities as they came close but lost the match by a margin of 8 runs. That defeat not only sealed England’s exit from the tournament but also led to Jos Buttler stepping down as captain of the white-ball side. His resignation has now sparked major concerns over the leadership and future direction of England’s ODI and T20I teams.
With England’s white-ball cricket at a crossroads, Kaif’s endorsement of Root carries weight. The 33-year-old batter, who previously led England’s Test side, has been a key figure in the ODI setup for over a decade. While Root has not been a regular in England’s T20I plans, his experience and leadership qualities could provide the stability the team desperately needs after their disastrous Champions Trophy campaign.
