Joe Root's two World Cup innings of 77 and 82 against New Zealand and Bangladesh, respectively, are proof positive that there was never anything to worry about with England's best batsman.

Root is a cricketer who rarely looks out of form. Whether it’s a cameo or a long-haul stay, Root’s elegant batsmanship remains eminently watchable from an aesthetic viewpoint. He is cricket’s version of Roger Federer, dancing around the ball and using natural timing to make it all look ridiculously easy.

Even man of the match Dawid Malan gave the floor to his partner after the win over Bangladesh. "He just never stops doing it, does he? He's just so consistent. He's got such a good method of doing it. Even today, he came and changed the gears at certain times. And when I wasn't hitting the ball as well for a little period, he took the initiative and changed the momentum of the game as well."

In the process, the 32-year-old has also become England’s top scorer in Cricket World Cups, surpassing the previous record of Graham Gooch in two fewer matches. Root gets high-quality stuff done in a low-key way. There is always intent in his play. The Yorkshireman has also learned new tricks when it would have been easier to stay in bed with his comfort box of traditional fare. It’s not every day that a world-class batter tries a ramp shot against one of the world’s fastest bowlers from the first ball of the day in an Ashes series. Root is an open book, always looking to stay ahead of the game.

Before the tournament began, there were a few rumblings about the number three’s outings against New Zealand in the three-match ODI series in England last month. For once, the former skipper had lost his wand-like touch. There were some ugly swipes, shots, and misfires in his brief stay at the crease. “He looked painfully out of touch in all four innings, missing his reverse scoops and unable to tick the run rate over at his usual run a ball,” articulated Wisden.com.

Root is good at most things and predicted that he would elevate his game for the big tournament. It’s almost a shock when he is dismissed -or when he gets himself out - because he has that extra second of time that all great players possess.

Yet there are still some old memories to address and wipe from the record. The 2019 World Cup final is not one that he remembers with any great pleasure. He scored seven runs off 30 balls in 45 minutes. England famously won, but Root admits he had a shocker. Never again.

During Australia’s defeat by India in Mumbai, there were 175 dot balls in their innings. The depiction of Steve Smith and David Warner sitting down on chairs was symbolic of how the heat and the spin totally spiked the wheels of motion in the Baggy Green ranks. Root is always looking to score, even when the conditions and home spinners plug the flow.

Since Eoin Morgan’s reboot of the team began in 2015, Root averaged a huge 58 in those golden four years leading up to the epic denouement at Lord’s against New Zealand. The most crucial adjustments Root has made are to be totally open to the changes within the team and adapt to the game. People are found out in cricket; weaknesses are discovered and exploited. His hunger remains unsatiated, but he is the least selfish of people, very much a team man rather than obsessed with stat attacks.

Root is England’s moral compass, their everyman in a less dominating manner than Ben Stokes. His social conscience and engaging nature have been seen numerous times, from confronting West Indian bowler Shannon Gabriel on an alleged instance of derogatory language to spending time with locals around the world. When a sportsman as good as Root can still play hard and be as accessible and easygoing, that leaves a legacy well beyond the conventional role of a typical brand ambassador.

During the Spirit of Cricket row in the Ashes, Root called on his home supporters at Headingley to reduce their barracking of Australia’s players when the fallout from the Jonny Bairstow runout incident at Lord's threatened to get out of hand. “You come to support your nation. It doesn’t need to go beyond that; it should never go beyond that,” he said.

This might be Joe Root’s last World Cup mission with a 37th birthday only a few months away by the time the 2027 tournament comes round. Judging by the first two performances in India, he is going to be a key player yet again in the next five weeks. They don’t call him Mr. Dependable for nothing.