The man who has held the world No. 1 ranking for nearly 200 weeks has not entered the winner’s circle in nearly 200 days. The latter streak could be in jeopardy this weekend as Scottie Scheffler caught fire on the greens at TPC Twin Cities on Thursday at the 2026 3M Open en route to an opening 6-under 65.

Scheffler’s 6-under figure puts him three strokes behind first-round leader Ben Kohles, who continued a summer to remember with a 9-under 62. He is two strokes clear of Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland and Emiliano Grillo. Lucas Glover, Michael Brennan, Jesper Svensson and Kevin Roy are among those tied with Scheffler at 6 under.

“I didn’t hit a bunch of fairways early, but I was able to kind of manage my way around and get out of some trouble areas without making any bogeys,” Scheffler said. “That was important, keeping my momentum going. Once I started to hit fairways and gave myself some looks, [I] was able to start making some birdies.”

Following a week at The Open where he made just six putts outside of 10 feet, Scheffler nearly matched that total on Thursday with five. The 20-time PGA Tour winner missed a birdie bid from 7 feet on his opening hole, but that was the last opportunity he let slip by as he gained north of three strokes on the field with the mallet in hand.

Scheffler’s birdie conversions came from 15 feet on No. 12 (his third hole of the morning), 17 feet on No. 18, 15 feet on No. 1, 30 feet on No. 4, 3 feet on No. 6 and a 10-footer on the par-4 7th, which was his final circle of the day. In between all the birdies, he kept the scorecard clean thanks to a timely 18-foot par save on No. 15 as well.

“Fresh greens are a little bit easier than like links greens,” Scheffler said. “Part of playing links golf is the ball’s not going to roll true every single time. Felt like I was just on the wrong end of that last week. Got here and made sure I was lined up where I thought it was and made sure I was hitting it on that line, and that was about it.”

Scheffler will now try to keep his foot on the gas over the next 54 holes amid a field filled with players looking to make a push not only up the leaderboard but up the FedEx Cup standings, where the world No. 1 also occupies the No. 1 spot.

“Golf’s funny,” Scheffler said. “Some days, you’re hitting your lines, and the line seems to be tracking toward the hole, and other days, it feels like you’re doing the same thing, and it kind of goes around the hole. But today was a day in which I was able to hole some nice putts, and that’s why I was able to make some birdies out there.”

Leader

1. Ben Kohles (-9): Kohles signed for the lowest round of his PGA Tour career and has positioned himself to move up the FedEx Cup standings just as he has done this last month. Splitting time between the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour, Kohles decided after his heartbreaking loss at the John Deere Classic to keep pushing on this circuit as he stands at No. 8 in the Korn Ferry Tour standings thanks to a win in June. At No. 100 in the PGA Tour’s season-long race, he needs a monumental effort these next three weeks to keep his playoff hopes alive. Thursday at TPC Twin Cities was the start he needed as he gained more than five strokes on the field on approach en route to a career day.

“After John Deere, I think I talked to my team and feel like I put myself in position to play out here as much as I can,” Kohles said. “If I don’t make the FedExCup Playoffs in the next three weeks, there’s still a chance for me to play the last six Korn Ferry [events]. With the start that I’ve gotten and how I’m sitting there, confident in myself that I can still get it done, even skipping some weeks here and there. Yeah, my main focus is I’m not really worried about that at all and trying to make the top-70.”

Contenders

T2. Jackson Koivun, Gary Woodland, Emiliano Grillo (-7)
T5. Scottie Scheffler, Lucas Glover, Michael Brennan, Kevin Roy, Jesper Svensson (-6)

A missed cut in his professional debut might as well be ancient history for Koivun. Following up a short week at the John Deere Classic with a top-10 finish at the ISCO Championship, the 21-year-old is settling in by the week with Thursday’s 64 doing plenty to help the cause. Koivun took the lid off the hole immediately with a 10-foot birdie conversion on the par-4 1st. He added makes from 41 feet, 15 feet and 12 feet by the time he made the turn, keeping it rolling on the back half and maintaining an aggressive approach when the time called for it.

“The golf course is definitely gettable as the scores show,” Koivun said. “Just playing smart, playing for a score. Just executing when the time is right and getting aggressive when you can. Just felt like I did a good job of taking advantage of that today.”

2026 3M Open updated odds, picks

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

• Scottie Scheffler: +160
• Ben Kohles: 6-1
• Jackson Koivun: 9-1
• Gary Woodland: 14-1
• Emiliano Grillo: 17-1
• Michael Brennan: 23-1
• Lucas Glover: 30-1

This tournament goes through Scheffler, and while it is likely wise to add him now, let’s instead back our initial read. Kim at 3 under did not have his best stuff Thursday, but at 50-1 his price remains appetizing, especially with a quick turnaround for his second round.

One of the louder cheers came for the Falklands Islands – in the news recently following Argentina’s victory over England in the football World Cup semi-finals – and another followed when the Samoa team emerged and performed a haka in front of the dignitaries in the Royal Box.

But nothing compared to the noise which greeted the arrival of the Scotland team, who entered the arena last in their white shirts and kilts and lifted many in the capacity crowd from their seats.

A large Loch Ness Monster representation then emerged, before, backed by bagpipers and drummers, a rousing rendition of Flower of Scotland followed.

The next section of the evening featured theatrical performances – a show billed as “a love letter to Glasgow and the Commonwealth”.

It began with a performance by Scottish folk and country singer Nathan Evans and a dance under a replica of Glasgow Central Station’s iconic clock.

The saying “Meet me under the clock” is famous in these parts.

Singer Callum Beattie’s rendition of Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – the 1970s disco tune recently adopted as Scotland’s unofficial anthem – had the Scottish athletes dancing in their seats.

Held indoors in front of about 10,000 people, this was a more intimate ceremony than the last time Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games, when a 40,000-strong crowd witnessed the opening of the Games in 2014 at Celtic Park.

There was a point, after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in 2023, when some thought these Games would not happen. Glasgow stepped in at short notice to ensure otherwise.

There are eight fewer sports involved compared to 2014, given the short build-up, and venues from 12 years ago have been repurposed.

But Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare, wearing a tartan kilt in the colours of his home country Uganda, said this edition has been made possible by the “extraordinary legacy of 2014 and by a city that once again welcomes us with warm hearts and open arms”.

A group of students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Charlotte Region received a once-in-a-lifetime basketball experience Thursday as the Charlotte Hornets launched a new initiative aimed at inspiring young people across the Carolinas.

The event, held at Northridge Middle School, marked the kickoff of the Hornets’ “Bee Ball for All” youth initiative, part of the team’s broader Impacting the Carolinas community outreach efforts.

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Students spent the day learning basketball fundamentals, teamwork and leadership while getting the chance to interact with Hornets staff and franchise legend Muggsy Bogues.

“I think it’s very surreal and cool because I get to play with the Hornets, and the Hornets is a big basketball team,” said fourth-grader Jaxxon Darling.

ALSO READ: Muggsy Bogues’ basketball tournament promotes mental health awareness for young athletes

As part of the initiative, the Hornets announced they will distribute 10,000 basketballs to children across North and South Carolina, giving more young people access to the game while encouraging healthy lifestyles and community engagement.

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“That’s 10,000 opportunities for leadership and mentorship, for wellness, community engagement, opportunities to get outside and play in the Carolinas,” organizers said during the event.

The program is a partnership between the Charlotte Hornets and First Horizon Bank, which leaders say is designed to create lasting opportunities for children beyond the basketball court.

“When you see the Hornets and First Horizon Bank coming together, it’s us locking arms and saying, ‘Join us and let’s look at what we can do collectively when we support an organization like Boys & Girls Club,’” said Betsy Mack, the Hornets’ Senior Vice President of Community Impact.

For the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Charlotte Region, the event also highlighted the growing need for youth programs in the area.

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“Charlotte is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a freestanding Boys & Girls Club,” said President and CEO Todd McFarlane. “So there’s so much opportunity for us.”

The highlight of the day came when Bogues took the court to coach the students, encouraging them to build confidence both on and off the court.

“We want to make sure these kids’ self-esteem is at a high, where they understand how important they are to themselves,” Bogues said.

Organizers hope the initiative will provide not only basketballs, but also opportunities for mentorship, leadership development and positive community connections for thousands of young people across the Carolinas.

One of the greatest heavyweights of his era, Anthony Joshua returns to the ring when he faces Kristian Prenga. The main event is designed to be a tune-up for Joshua’s seemingly inevitable meeting with Tyson Fury later in the year. However, the rest of the card is strong. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is getting a great card — at least on paper. Let’s talk boxing.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Event: Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga, “The Comeback”

• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026

• Location: Jeddah Superdome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

• Main event: Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) vs. Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), heavyweight

• Broadcast: DAZN pay-per-view ($59.99 U.S. / £19.99 U.K.)

• Main card start: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BST

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When and Where Is Joshua vs. Prenga, and How Can You Watch?

Joshua vs. Prenga runs Saturday, July 25 at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, live worldwide on DAZN pay-per-view at $59.99 in the U.S. and £19.99 in the U.K., with the card also folded into the DAZN Ultimate tier. The main card starts at 1 p.m. ET, which is 10 a.m. PT and 6 p.m. BST.

Main-event ring walks are penciled in for roughly 5:45 p.m. ET, though that slides with how the undercard plays out. For the minute-by-minute rundown, my full start-time and ring-walk breakdown has the timing.

Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga Full Card

The DAZN pay-per-view main card:

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• Anthony Joshua (29-4) vs. Kristian Prenga (20-1), heavyweight

• Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0) vs. Simon Zachenhuber (29-1), WBO super middleweight title

• Josh Kelly (18-1) vs. Caoimhin Agyarko (18-0), IBF junior middleweight title

• Reito Tsutsumi (4-0) vs. Alvino Herrera Meza (18-0-2), junior lightweight

• Oleksandr Khyzhniak (1-0) vs. Lenny Patrach (8-0-1), light heavyweight

Undercard:

• Mikie Tallon (14-0) vs. Orlando Pino (17-3)

• Nishant Dev (6-0) vs. Cesar Diaz (10-2)

• Jacob Bank (19-0) vs. Pawel August

• Ziyad Al Maayouf vs. Frank Lucian Mango

What Should You Watch For Beyond the Main Event?

Joshua should walk over Prenga, but what happens with Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber and Josh Kelly vs. Ireland’s Caoimhin Agyarko? Japanese star Reito Tsutumi gets a real test from undefeated Mexican, Alvino Herrera Meza.

Both title fights carry live underdogs, with Zachenhuber and Agyarko each walking in unbeaten. The Tsutsumi bout is the one for prospect watchers, pitting a fast-rising Japanese talent against a Mexican who has not lost.

What’s Next for Anthony Joshua?

The whole point of the Prenga assignment is to keep Joshua sharp and marketable for an all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, a fight rumored for a late-2026 date at Wembley. Fury is doing his own tune-up work, with his bout against Mariusz Wach landing the night before this card.

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A clean Joshua win keeps that money fight on schedule. A slip against a heavy-handed Prenga blows the timeline up. It happened to Deontay Wilder when he was set to face Joshua in 2024, but he lost a unanimous decision to Joseph Parker in December 2023 on the same card that AJ stopped Otto Wallin.

AJ will need to avoid a similar pitfall.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Ryan Fox took all of 22 seconds to read and roll in the birdie putt that clinched the Open Championship. But his celebration lasted a good deal longer.

Fresh off a victory that transformed him into a fast-playing fan favorite, the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year joined GOLF’s Subpar podcast to recount the revelry that followed at Royal Birkdale — a party that stretched well into Monday morning — and the notable airport encounter that came after.

Fox said the festivities began upstairs in the players’ lounge, where he and his entourage poured red wine into the Claret Jug and drank from the famous trophy, pausing only when tournament obligations called.

“I had to go downstairs to take more photos so I had to tip the wine out of the Claret Jug, which was a bit of a shame for the wine,” Fox said.

Roughly 40 people joined the festivities, Fox said, including fellow Tour pros Thomas Detry and Min Woo Lee. The party rolled on until staff delivered an ultimatum: Leave now, or there wouldn’t be any cars left to take them home.

Back at his rental house in Birkdale, Fox faced another decision. With a 4:15 a.m. ride to the airport scheduled, he opted to skip sleep altogether.

The party finally wound down at around 3:30 a.m, having inspired several videos that, Fox said, “will not see the light of day.”

Then it was off to the airport, where matters took a surreal turn.

Standing directly in front of Fox in the British Airways check-in line was Cameron Young, the player who had finished one shot behind him at Royal Birkdale. They were on the same flight from Manchester to London.

What could have been an awkward encounter wasn’t.

“He was great,” Fox said.

On the plane, the pattern held: Fox was seated directly behind Young. Loading the Claret Jug — and its replica — into the overhead bin took some time.

“Some people were probably getting a little annoyed,” Fox joked. “But I wasn’t going to be the person who loses the Claret Jug and puts it in the cargo hold.”

Whether he’s playing golf quickly or boarding a plane slowly, Fox has won fans over with his down-to-earth demeanor — an Everyman champion, who still flies commercial like the rest of us. You can watch the entire episode below.

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President Donald Trump hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Thursday, celebrating the team’s remarkable achievement of securing a second consecutive title. During a Rose Garden event, Trump hailed the Dodgers as “one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” acknowledging their recent triumph.

He specifically referenced their thrilling Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, calling it “a hell of a series.” Trump expressed his surprise upon learning that the Dodgers had never before won consecutive championships, before playfully speculating about the prospect of a third straight title.

The president extended a warm welcome, stating, “I’m thrilled to say welcome back to the White House. And maybe I’ll see you again next year.” He also revealed his particular anticipation for meeting star player Shohei Ohtani, whom he extensively compared to baseball icon Babe Ruth, even suggesting Ohtani was arguably the best hitter and pitcher in the sport.

This celebration followed a previous occasion where the president had saluted the team in the East Room in April 2025, marking their 2024 World Series championship over the New York Yankees.

“It’s truly a great — when you talk about a brand — it’s one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” Trump said of the Dodgers. He spoke in front of a table with two World Series trophies and a Trump 47 jersey, which the team presented to him.

The Dodgers also gave Trump what looked like a replica of a World Series ring. That prompted Trump to exclaim: “Wow. Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this” before slipping the ring into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

Trump says Iran war has kept him from following baseball closely

Those in the crowd wore blue Dodgers caps to guard against bright overhead sun, and the band played a jazzy instrumental version of Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” before Trump took the stage.

Trump described last year’s World Series’ epic Game 3 during which the Dodgers won 6-5 in 18 innings. Trump said he stayed up until around 3 a.m. to watch, noting that “it was a long one, but it was amazing.”

“I thought it was a game that you were going to lose about four or five times, and you ended up winning,” he said, adding, “Luck is OK, too, right?” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed: “Luck is OK.”

“But with talent you get a lot of luck,” Trump continued.

The president said he spoke briefly with Roberts before the event and learned that his team currently has the best record in baseball, noting, “I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things.”

That was his only reference during the event to fighting in the Middle East, which has escalated on both sides in recent days.

Roberts also spoke briefly, saying, “We’re going for a three-peat.”

Championship baseball teams have been coming to the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings. They were the first fully professional team to visit the White House and went undefeated that season, though the World Series wasn’t established in its modern form until 1903.

Sports teams’ visits to the Trump White House have sometimes been a source of controversy. In 2018, the president rescinded an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after many players suggested they might skip such a trip.

Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts wasn’t at Thursday’s Rose Garden event, though he did make the 2025 visit. He said he prefers to spend the team’s scheduled days off with his family.

The Dodgers originally considered coming to the White House this past April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but a crowded early season schedule didn’t permit that. Instead, they’re in the nation’s capital during the off-day between a just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.

The White House has changed since the Dodgers’ last visit

Over the past year, Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. At Thursday’s event for the Dodgers, he referenced the “ Walk of Fame ” installed on the colonnade, which features plaques of past presidents along with partisan insults against Joe Biden and other Democrats.

“I could put some of the great Dodgers on the wall,” Trump joked, “but I figured maybe it’s more appropriate that we put the presidents.”

Trump, a baseball fan and New York native, has for years been closely associated with the Yankees, whose late, longtime owner George Steinbrenner was a close friend. Trump referenced Steinbrenner on Thursday, saying, “He would do anything to win” before telling the Dodgers’ team owners, “But you’re doing the same thing.”

The president isn’t always so complimentary of teams, though. During a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, he praised the ownership of the local Atlanta Braves and slammed the Mets for their sky-high payroll and losing record.

Trump was joined on stage during that event by former Braves manager Brian Snitker, and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.

”You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time,” Trump said then. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”

“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.”

Hull FC interim coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:

“Really disappointed, it would have been great to get two points. Unbelievable crowd came in on the back of a season where we have really struggled. The loyalty of the supporters is second to none.

“We got off to a great start. We felt the start was important for us to get that engagement with the supporters and we thought Rovers were a bit fragile after their last two performances, so it couldn’t have gone any better.

“The tries we conceded were real soft ones and that was down to fatigue.

“Second half, Rovers just did what they do which is suffocate you of field position. I ended up with a bit of a neck ache because I was looking to my left all the time. That pressure they put you under forced us into some uncharacteristic errors.”

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Humberside:

“I’m really proud. The first 10 minutes was a nervous start, 12 [points] down, it could have got ugly but we fought.

“I thought Tom Amone and Kyle Lawton were outstanding. They made a big difference when they came on. I say it every week but what Dean Hadley brings to our team is incredible.”

[On Elliot Minchella and Jez Litten] “When times get a little bit tough you want your leaders to stand up and that is what I thought both of those guys did tonight and put in great performances.

“I said before the game that I thought this was the perfect game for us to show we’ve still got that fight. Being 12-0 down at your rivals to be able to kick on at the back end was what we needed.”

Hull FC: Moy; Barron, Hardaker, Litten, Briscoe; Arthur, Sezer; Salabio, Cust, Hill, Batchelor, O’Neill, Bell.

Interchanges: Bourouh, Clark, Ese’ese, Wood.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Mourgue, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella.

Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Lawton, Dezaria.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Not too often, folks, does the world’s best golfer offer his thoughts on the Vikings’ passer battle. Scottie Scheffler could be breaking new ground.

Recently, Mr. Scheffler played a round of golf with Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell. The golfer then jumped in front of the media, commenting on how the round went. Part of what made Scheffler’s response notable was his admission about not wanting to hassle Coach O’Connell too much since football is soon going to take over the coach’s life. He can drive, putt, and read the room.

Scottie Scheffler Tosses in a Quick Comment on QB Battle

“Yeah, I love the NFL” Scheffler explained, “I definitely wasn’t going to just start hammering him with questions about football. He’s about to start the season, so he’s going to be thinking about football for quite a long period of time.”

Scheffler then had a follow-up question about who is going to start: “That was one of the first things he said. I was like, ‘You guys about to start getting going?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah […] we’ve got a couple of quarterbacks and so there will be some competition.’”

At one point, Scheffler said that O’Connell is “an impressive guy to be able to talk to and spend some time with.” In fact, Scheffler even made a prophecy about O’Connell needing to fend off quarterback questions as things get going at Vikings training camp.

So, Scheffler can drive, putt, read the room, and tell the future. Not too shabby.

— READ MORE: Irksome Injury Hits Vikings Defender Ahead of Training Camp —
— READ MORE: Vikings Fans Got Bad News Today —
— READ MORE: 8 Other Questions to Ask Before Vikings Training Camp —

In reality, Minnesota Vikings football goes beyond Kevin O’Connell and what’s taking place at quarterback. Sometimes, the coverage can suggest otherwise, but that’s mostly the fault of the coverage.

These past several months have involved the Vikings making some noticeable changes within the trenches, with the DT and C spots standing out as particularly notable. The secondary has received some needed reinforcements and the receiver room looks deeper due to the presence of Jauan Jennings. There’s even optimism about some of the coaching tweaks.

But while all of these stories are worth monitoring, none are nearly as consequential as the battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Scottie Scheffler even jumped into the debate, albeit in a miniature manner.

Sunday, July 26th is going to be an important day for sports in the Twin Cities. Rookies will arrive at TCO Performance Center to get to work in training camp.

Meanwhile, Scheffler will be looking to add another trophy to his collection. The PGA Tour website clarified that he went -6 in his opening round at the 3M Open.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

The remarkable act of Joe Root (Image: AI Generated)

NEW DELHI: Joe Root finished the ODI series against India unbeaten, scoring 249 runs in three innings to guide England to a 2-1 series victory. At 36, while many of his contemporaries have retired, Root continues to redefine consistency across formats. All of Root’s scores in this series 76, 99, and 74 came when the team needed him most, and he was deservedly named Player of the Series.Across the three-match ODI series against India, Root was England’s batting backbone. He scored 76 in the first ODI to help England recover to 258 from 107/6, followed it up with a match-winning 99 in the second ODI while chasing 234, and finished with an unbeaten 74 in the third ODI, anchoring England’s record 387-run total, supporting Ben Duckett’s 141, and accelerating in the death overs.

India had no answer to Joe Root

Joe Root breathed fire against India on his home soil and denied India a fairytale comeback after their 0-4 T20I series loss. In the presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India fought well, but they could not stop the home hero, Root, who remained a headache for the visitors.Remember the bat-drop celebration by Root against India in 2018? That was the last time England won an ODI series against India, and the hero then was also none other than Root. He had scored 113* and 100 in that series and was named the Player of the Series.

Joe Root’s bat drop celebration

For over a decade, Root has been England’s most dependable batter across Tests and ODIs, consistently delivering when the team needed him the most. Now 36, he continues to thrive despite many of his contemporaries, such as Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen, and most recently Ben Stokes, having already retired from international cricket.The moot point is how Root continues to compete with youngsters the same way he did a decade ago. What is the secret behind his longevity? Former England spinner Monty Panesar, who once shared the dressing room with Root, revealed the secret.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Monty Panesar pointed out Root’s hunger for runs and how he continues to evolve with every match, making every ground feel like his own den.

‘England’s Greatest to Ever Play’

“I think he’s simply hungry. He loves playing cricket and is still hungry to score runs. He still has that passion, and he probably wants to cement his status as one of England’s greatest cricketers. With an ODI average above 50 and a Test average over 50, he probably feels he still has a few years left. When he retires, he wants to be remembered as England’s greatest batter,” Monty Panesar told TimesofIndia.com.In the modern T20 era, where batters look to come in, smash the ball, and walk away, Root prefers to stay at the crease and plays like an old-school batter who believes in building an innings rather than throwing away his wicket to a reckless shot.“When I played with him, he had a very solid defence. He was always comfortable playing reverse sweeps, paddle sweeps, and those little scoring shots. He made them look very easy. You can see how his game has evolved, even in Test cricket, where he now plays the lap sweep over the slips for six. But on pitches like Cardiff, where there’s extra bounce, you have to play a more traditional style of cricket. That’s why his game is so effective. That’s the difference between Joe Root and many of the younger players today,” Monty Panesar added.

The many careers of Joe Root

There is another story that defines Joe Root’s career – his journey before, during, and after captaincy.Before becoming captain (2012–January 2017), he scored 8,211 runs in 152 matches at an average of 48.58.During his Test captaincy (2017–April 2022), Root accumulated 8,680 runs in 149 matches at an average of 49.31. And since stepping down as captain in 2022, Root has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. He has amassed 5,942 runs in 89 matches at an average of 53.05, scoring 20 centuries while rediscovering his best form in both Tests and ODIs.

JOE ROOT

‘Captaincy Changed Root, But It Didn’t Break Him’

“I think his captaincy period was extremely tough. England went through a difficult phase where they won only one of 17 Test matches, and eventually he had to step down. Those difficult moments probably made him stronger. Now he’s enjoying the freedom that comes without the burden of captaincy, and he’s making the most of it because he knows how hard things were during that period. I think those experiences have increased his hunger even further. He wants to continue playing for as long as possible because he’s genuinely enjoying scoring runs for England again,” Monty Panesar stated.

Why Didn’t Root Conquer T20 Cricket?

Whenever Joe Root is compared with the Fab Four, one question is always asked: Why did he fail to dominate T20Is?There is Virat Kohli, who excelled in every format he played. Kane Williamson showcased his class across formats. Steve Smith did the same. But Root has always believed in elegant batting over power-hitting.“I think his game is naturally more suited to the longer formats than T20 cricket, and that’s probably why he hasn’t been as successful in the shortest format. If you compare him with today’s younger batters, their games are built around T20 cricket. Joe Root’s strengths are more suited to Test cricket and ODIs. T20 is probably the hardest format for him because it demands explosive scoring and high-risk shots. On the other hand, his technique and temperament are perfectly suited to Test cricket and ODIs,” Panesar explained.

‘Root is to England what Virat-Rohit are to India’: Kumble

England’s Answer to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

India have heavily relied on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for years. England, meanwhile, have relied on just one man whenever the batting has been under pressure: Joseph Edward Root. After Root’s unbeaten 99 against India in the second ODI, former India captain Anil Kumble said: “What Virat and Rohit are for India, Root is for England.”That statement perfectly justifies how far Root has come in his career.“Joe Root gives someone like Harry Brook a lot of comfort. Harry Brook can go out there and play his attacking shots because he knows Joe Root is at the other end. When Root eventually retires, Brook may have to become more responsible, but right now Root allows the younger players to express themselves. The players know that if things become difficult, Joe Root is still there. It’s similar to what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have meant for India,” Monty Panesar said.That is probably the biggest compliment any batter can receive. When 10 other players and the coaching staff believe that, as long as you are at the crease, anything is possible, you know you have earned that respect. That is exactly what Root has built throughout his career.If Root goes on to break Sachin Tendulkar‘s all-time Test run record, he needs only 1,807 more runs, wins another ICC title, and helps England reclaim the Ashes at home, there will be very little left for him to achieve in international cricket.As Panesar rightly pointed out: “If he does that, it would be the icing on the cake for Joe Root. Winning a World Cup in South Africa would be absolutely massive for him.”For now, Root continues to do what he has done for more than a decade: score runs, frustrate bowlers, and prove that classical batting still has a place in the modern game.