In a recent interview, England batter Joe Root expressed his desire to continue playing one-day cricket after the current World Cup and participate in the next tournament in 2027. Root, who is 32 years old, stated that he would love to still be playing in four years’ time and that he doesn’t see himself retiring from ODIs unless he is not good enough.

Root is currently England’s all-time leading run-scorer in international cricket and is second only to Eoin Morgan in one-day internationals. He is one of nine England players at the World Cup who were part of the squad that won the tournament in 2019. While some of the players from that squad, including all-rounder Ben Stokes, have come out of retirement to play in the current World Cup, many others, including Dawid Malan, will be in their late 30s by the time of the next tournament in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

When asked if he has any plans to retire from ODIs, Root confidently replied, “No. I’ll get pushed before.” He is determined to continue representing England in one-day cricket as long as he is capable.

England, the current holders of the World Cup, will be facing Afghanistan in their upcoming match in Delhi. A victory in this match will take them into the top four of the group table. Root emphasized the importance of adaptability in this tournament, as every team poses slightly different threats. He believes that England needs to keep improving and building momentum towards the business end of the tournament.

In terms of player availability, England pace bowler Chris Woakes has been struggling with illness, while Ben Stokes has not played in the opening two games due to a hip problem. However, both players were able to train in Delhi on Saturday, indicating positive signs for their participation in the upcoming match.

Afghanistan, coached by former England batter Jonathan Trott, will be looking to secure their first win against England in this tournament. Trott acknowledged that his side has the ability to upset any team and expressed the importance of getting over the line and putting pressure on England.

Overall, Root’s commitment to continue playing one-day cricket and his aspirations to participate in the next World Cup in 2027 demonstrate his dedication to the sport and his desire to contribute to England’s success in the future.