India, July 26 -- To many people, turning 30 comes with its own set of challenges. They experience what is popularly referred to as a 'quarter-life crisis', a time when they assess their choices and goals, which in turn can trigger anxiety and self-doubt.

Clearly, Joe Root doesn't belong to that category.

The former England captain turned 30 on 30 December 2020. How did he celebrate it? With 228 in his first Test innings since that milestone birthday, against Sri Lanka in Galle, in January 2021. Not even he would have known then that in the next three weeks, he would unleash further scores of 186 (also in Galle in the next Test against Sri Lanka) and 218 in the following match, against India in Chennai. Or that, in the four and a half y...