'We've got four very important games against arguably the best team in the world in their own conditions' - Joe Root ahead of India series

England registered a stunning victory against Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series by 2-0 at the Galle International Stadium. However, they have a tough challenge ahead as they are all set to lock horns against India in a four-match Test series, starting from February 5 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

While the Sri Lanka series win gave a huge boost to the visiting England nation, captain Joe Root believes that it won’t be easy against India and his team will have to put their best foot forward. Root also described team India as ‘arguably the best team in the world in their own conditions.’

“We’ve got four very important games against arguably the best team in the world in their own conditions. We’ll have to play right at the top of our game to win out there but we couldn’t be in a better place to go and challenge them (India),” Joe Root said as quoted by Times Now.

We always want our best players there as often as possible, says Joe Root

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, England will have to serve a mandatory quarantine period after their arrival in Chennai and will get only two to three days for preparation before the marquee Test. While Root is aware of the quarantine rules, he believes that winning the Test series has given immense confidence to them.

“We’re going to have seven or eight days with no cricket, six days in quarantine, and then three very important days of prep ahead of the series. But what we have got is a huge amount of confidence coming out of these two games,” Joe Root added.

England will be without the services of their wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler after the first Test while Jonny Bairstow has also been ruled out of the first two Test matches as part of the team’s player management policy. However, the skipper is positive that the presence of Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, who were rested for the Sri Lanka series, will provide confidence to the squad.

“We always want our best players there as often as possible, because of the world we’re in right now it’s not feasible and we have to manage that the best we can. But he’s (Buttler) still got an opportunity to affect the series and sure he’ll be desperate to keep up the good form,” Root concluded.