On the crucial day of the England cricket team in the Group B match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the legendary English cricketer Joe Root recorded his 17th ODI century, and it was his first ODI hundred after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. 

The Afghanistan vs England match is a very important match of the tournament as the winners will stay in the race for the semi-final qualifications and the losers will be eliminated before their last match of the group. After winning the toss, Afghanistan scored 325/7 in 50 overs, as Ibrahim Zadran powered with middle-order support guided the team to a challenging total after recovering from the first powerplay total of 39/3. 

Joe Root recorded his 17th ODI century, first after the World Cup 2019

In big chasing, England were losing wickets at regular intervals, which has been a regular scenario since Brendon McCullum's white-ball coaching era started. Joe Root joined the crease after England lost two quick wickets for 30 runs in 6.1 overs. Root had a 68-run partnership with the opener Ben Duckett for the third wicket. After Duckett was dismissed for 38 runs, Harry Brook (25) and captain Jos Buttler (38) lost their wickets at the crucial stages, while Root was fighting by completing his 50 runs in 50 balls.

Root fought hard while Jamie Overton provided good support for him for the seventh wicket, where they had a 54-run partnership. Root completed his century in 98 balls. It was his 17th ODI hundred but his first after the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019. Previously, the right-handed batter recorded an ODI hundred against West Indies during the league stage of the ODI World Cup 2019.  

Before the Afghan hero Azmatullah Omarzai took the wicket of Root in the 46th over, Root scored 120 off 111 balls with 11 fours and one six. England ultimately lost the game by eight runs.

See Also: Jofra Archer breaks James Anderson's English ODI record

Joe Root: First player to score more than one 120 or more runs knock in ICC Champions Trophy history

It was Root's second century in ICC Champions Trophy history. During the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 group-stage match against Bangladesh, Root scored 133 not out. With his latest century, he equalled the record for most centuries in ICC Champions Trophy history for England with Marcus Trescothik. On the other hand, with his latest 120 runs, Root became the first batter in ICC Champions Trophy history to score two 120 or more runs.