'I Don't Think It Matters How Good A Player Ben Stokes Is': Root's Colleague Calls Out The England Captain For Missing Series Against West Indies

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-01 03:12:43 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-17 04:38:39

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England Test captain Joe Root has received criticism from none other than his colleague Ravi Panesar for prioritising his IPL stint over representing England in the Test series against the West Indies. Root admitted he was disappointed at missing the series but justified his decision by arguing that he wanted to give himself the best chance of performing well in the IPL as he prepares for the upcoming English summer.

Panesar, who himself knows what it's like to miss international duty due to IPL participation, told talkSPORT that he disagreed with Root's decision, even if the batsman is coming off a stellar showing in the ashes.

"I don't think it matters how good a player Ben Stokes is," said Panesar. "If you're the captain of the England team, you have to be there." Root currently holds the record for the most runs in Tests, ODIs, and international cricket for England.

Panesar also highlighted the disparity in the treatment of players selected for the ODI series against the Netherlands, who will be given rest days during the match to attend the birth of their children, and Root, who will miss the West Indies series entirely. "I think the decision has already been made (about Root missing the West Indies series)," he said.

"I feel it's unfair that a player is able to skip a series and play the IPL for financial purposes whereas other players, if they have a baby on the way, they have to make a choice whether they want to play in the IPL or be at the birth of their child."

Just last week, England's head coach, Chris Silverwood, announced that a new white-ball squad will be selected for the ODI series, with players rest days allotted ahead of time to attend family emergencies or births. With the ambiguity surrounding whether or not players would be allowed to miss matches for IPL contracts, Silverwood stated that going forward, "family circumstances will be considered" when selecting players for ODI matches.

Whether these new regulations will affect Root's participation in the future is yet to be seen.

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