Joe Root has come under fire for no show with the bat after England's disappointing series loss against India despite scoring a double ton in the first Test. However, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen defended the 30-year-old.&nbsp;

As per Pietersen, Root is currently the best player in the English team. Pietersen also reminded Root's critics that the England skipper had scored match-winning centuries in India and Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

“Sometimes, as a captain, you got a lot to deal with. You’ve got a tremendous amount of things to deal with and being the best player in the team, you also need to try and lead by example," Pietersen said during a virtual press conference.&nbsp;

Root smashed a record double-ton in the first Test match at Chennai and guided his team to a mammoth win by 227 runs against India.&nbsp;

"Don’t forget, Joe Root scored a double hundred, then a big hundred (both versus Sri Lanka) and again a double hundred in India. He scored plenty of runs over the last six to eight weeks, so let’s not point a finger at Root. Rather, let’s point a finger at the other batters, as some of them couldn’t even aggregate 100 runs in the six weeks that they have been here," Pietersen added.&nbsp;

Kevin Pietersen added that Root is a great servant of the game and is a 'fabulous' player who is 'fantastic' both on and off the field. "So let’s just keep calm with him and instead have a look at the technique of the other players,” Pietersen added.&nbsp;

Joe Root has come under fire for no show with the bat after England's disappointing series loss against India despite scoring a double ton in the first Test. However, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen defended the 30-year-old.

Joe Root has come under fire for no show with the bat after England's disappointing series loss against India despite scoring a double ton in the first Test. However, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen defended the 30-year-old. As per Pietersen, Root is currently the best player in the English team. Pietersen also reminded Root's critics that the England skipper had scored match-winning centuries in India and Sri Lanka. “Sometimes, as a captain, you got a lot to deal with. You’ve got a tremendous amount of things to deal with and being the best player in the team, you also need to try and lead by example," Pietersen said during a virtual press conference. Root smashed a record double-ton in the first Test match at Chennai and guided his team to a mammoth win by 227 runs against India. "Don’t forget, Joe Root scored a double hundred, then a big hundred (both versus Sri Lanka) and again a double hundred in India. He scored plenty of runs over the last six to eight weeks, so let’s not point a finger at Root. Rather, let’s point a finger at the other batters, as some of them couldn’t even aggregate 100 runs in the six weeks that they have been here," Pietersen added. Kevin Pietersen added that Root is a great servant of the game and is a 'fabulous' player who is 'fantastic' both on and off the field. "So let’s just keep calm with him and instead have a look at the technique of the other players,” Pietersen added.

'Don’t forget, Joe Root scored a double hundred': Kevin Pietersen defends England skipper

English skipper Joe Root smashed a double ton against Sri Lanka on Saturday and his heartwarming gesture while celebrating the feat. Root acknowledged the applause the teammates and also waved his bat to the only spectator present in the ground.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shane-warne-trolls-rishabh-pant-fluorescent-rimmed-goggles-netizens-respond-357106" hreflang="en">Shane Warne trolls Rishabh Pant fluorescent rimmed-goggles; netizens respond</a>

This spectator is none other than Rob Lewis, the English fan who waited for 10 months to watch the England team in action. Lewis had decided to stay in Sri Lanka after the original tour was aborted over the coronavirus last March.

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Root scoring 200 and waving to Randy Caddick, an England fan waiting for 10 months for the tour to happen, is why you have to love cricket <a href="https://t.co/Cw9uGF6r8F">pic.twitter.com/Cw9uGF6r8F</a>
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However, Lewis was asked to leave the stands at Galle on Day 1. On Day 2, Sri Lankan cricket board granted special permission to Lewis to watch the match.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-4th-test-thunderstorm-plays-spoilsport-as-india-end-day-2-at-622-357080" hreflang="en">Ind vs Aus, 4th Test: Thunderstorm plays spoilsport as India end Day 2 at 62/2</a>

Root became the second-fastest and seventh England batsman to 8,000 Test runs. He overtook former England skipper to achieve the feat in 178 innings. Kevin Pietersen remains the fastest England batsman, who crossed 8,000 runs in 176 innings.&nbsp;

England ended their innings with a massive lead of 286 runs over hosts. But Sri Lankan opener fought back and scored 90-0 at tea on the third day.

English skipper Joe Root smashed a double ton against Sri Lanka on Saturday and his heartwarming gesture while celebrating the feat. Root acknowledged the applause the teammates and also waved his bat to the only spectator present in the ground.

English skipper Joe Root smashed a double ton against Sri Lanka on Saturday and his heartwarming gesture while celebrating the feat. Root acknowledged the applause the teammates and also waved his bat to the only spectator present in the ground. ALSO READ: Shane Warne trolls Rishabh Pant fluorescent rimmed-goggles; netizens respond This spectator is none other than Rob Lewis, the English fan who waited for 10 months to watch the England team in action. Lewis had decided to stay in Sri Lanka after the original tour was aborted over the coronavirus last March. Root scoring 200 and waving to Randy Caddick, an England fan waiting for 10 months for the tour to happen, is why you have to love cricket pic.twitter.com/Cw9uGF6r8F — Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) January 16, 2021 × However, Lewis was asked to leave the stands at Galle on Day 1. On Day 2, Sri Lankan cricket board granted special permission to Lewis to watch the match. ALSO READ: Ind vs Aus, 4th Test: Thunderstorm plays spoilsport as India end Day 2 at 62/2 Root became the second-fastest and seventh England batsman to 8,000 Test runs. He overtook former England skipper to achieve the feat in 178 innings. Kevin Pietersen remains the fastest England batsman, who crossed 8,000 runs in 176 innings. England ended their innings with a massive lead of 286 runs over hosts. But Sri Lankan opener fought back and scored 90-0 at tea on the third day.

WATCH: Joe Root's heartwarming gesture after scoring double ton against Sri Lanka

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'Don’t forget, Joe Root scored a double hundred': Kevin Pietersen defends England skipper

WATCH: Joe Root's heartwarming gesture after scoring double ton against Sri Lanka