Why did Joe Root miss out on England’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad?

Joe Root last played a T20 international for England in 2019. In the brutally fast-moving ecosystem of modern T20 cricket, that alone feels like a lifetime ago. Power-hitters dominate team sheets, strike rates are scrutinised as closely as averages, and the format increasingly rewards brawn over subtlety.

Yet with the 2026 T20 World Cup staged in India and Sri Lanka - conditions traditionally kinder to spin and game awareness than raw muscle - Root’s omission has sparked genuine debate. Was England right to move on, or are they leaving behind a player uniquely suited to the pressures and nuances of subcontinental cricket?

The case for Root

At his core, Root remains England’s finest player of spin. Few batters in world cricket manipulate fields, rotate strike, and disarm slow bowling with such calm assurance. That skill feels especially relevant for a tournament beginning on February 7 in conditions where spinners are expected to play a decisive role.

Root’s recent form only strengthens the argument. Three consecutive ODI fifties against Sri Lanka, capped by a fluent century, underlined that even at 35 he is still England’s most reliable run-scorer. His comfort on turning pitches is long established: he averages over 50 in T20s played in India, and while he has never featured in a T20 in Sri Lanka, his broader record there is exceptional across formats.

Big tournaments have rarely fazed him either. A decade ago, Root was inches away from being a World Cup hero. His blistering 83 off 44 balls against South Africa in the 2016 T20 World Cup and a half-century in the final would likely have crowned him player of the tournament - if not for Carlos Brathwaite’s unforgettable four sixes in Kolkata.

Is his T20 form still good enough?

Statistically, Root’s recent T20 record is solid rather than spectacular. Over the last three years, he has averaged 31.6 at a strike rate of 135 - numbers that hold up respectably in international and franchise cricket. In the most recent Hundred season, his output was comparable to Tom Banton, who made England’s World Cup squad.

He also impressed in franchise leagues. In the SA20 last year, Root averaged nearly 56 while striking at 140, contributing not just with the bat but also with his off-spin. In isolation, those numbers point to a player who is still very much T20-capable, particularly in conditions that reward control and adaptability.

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Why England ultimately said no

England’s selection philosophy has been ruthlessly consistent: maximise firepower. The current top order is built to overwhelm opponents, not outmanoeuvre them. Root’s mid-130s strike rate, while healthy, lags well behind England’s established top five, most of whom operate at 150-plus. Phil Salt, for example, strikes at an extraordinary 168 and already has four T20 centuries in just 50 matches.

There is also the broader reality of workload. Very few players in history have dominated all three formats simultaneously. Even the likes of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have had to prioritise. Root’s resurgence has coincided with his absence from T20 internationals, allowing him to focus on Tests and ODIs. England appear reluctant to disturb that balance. Captain Harry Brook confirmed as much, stating that Root was “probably not” in contention, despite acknowledging his class and experience.

A door quietly closed

Root himself has been pragmatic. Asked about a potential return, he admitted: “That ship has sailed.” Any recall would likely have come at the expense of Banton or Ben Duckett - neither an easy call given their recent roles and future value.

There is irony in all this. T20 World Cup finals are rarely six-hitting exhibitions; nerve and clarity often matter more. England leaned on Ben Stokes’s composure in 2022, just as Root nearly delivered in 2016. An anchor still has a place when the pressure peaks.

But England have chosen continuity and power over nuance. Root will watch from home, admired but unused - a reminder that in modern T20 cricket, timing your career can matter as much as timing the ball.