Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs has stood as one of cricket’s greatest milestones, a benchmark many believed would remain untouched for generations.
Yet, Joe Root edges closer to Tendulkar’s record, highlighting his consistency in Test matches. As Root continues to pile on runs for England, fans and pundits alike are beginning to wonder if he could break Tendulkar’s seemingly unbreakable record.
Statistical comparison
| Statistic | Sachin Tendulkar | Joe Root |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 286 | 286 |
| Runs | 14,513 | 13,409 |
| Average | 57 | 51.17 |
| Strike Rate (SR) | 54 | 53.62 |
| Highest Score (HS) | 248* | 262 |
| 100s | 50 | 38 |
| 50s | 59 | 66 |
| Ducks | 14 | 13 |
Joe Root as a Test Player
Joe Root stands as England’s most prolific run-scorer of all time. He was marked for greatness early on in his career. He faced Sachin Tendulkar in his Test debut against India, scoring 73 not out in the first innings and 20 not out in the second.
This performance caught the eyes of the Little Master, anticipating Joe Root’s rise to England’s stardom early on. Joe Root still has plenty of records to chase. Regardless of how many of these he breaks, Root will go down in history as part of cricketing folklore.
The Test Records Joe Root is Chasing
Sachin Tendulkar currently tops the leaderboard for most Test runs with 15,921; 2,378 runs ahead of Joe Root’s tally of 13,543. However, the England run-machine has age on his side; at 34 years old, Root should have 4-5 years left in him to give to Test cricket. Root has already overtaken some of the game’s greatest batters, Jacques Kallis, Brian Lara, and Ricky Ponting.
In the next three years, England have 27 Test matches lined up. Joe Root has shown no signs that he will not be able to maintain his current form. Since the start of 2020, Root’s average has been over 55, proving he certainly can break Sachin’s record.
Having played 42 matches fewer than Sachin, Root needs only three more half-centuries to rank as the batsman with the most fifties in their career. Similarly, Joe Root is the closest active player to Tendulkar’s record of most Test centuries, 51. He needs 13 more Test centuries to beat Sachin’s tally, and given his form since 2020, it doesn’t seem too difficult.
Once again, Root ranks as the active player closest to Sachin when it comes to appearances in Tests. However, this seems a more difficult task as Root, who stands at 158 appearances, would need to feature for England another 43 times to surpass Sachin’s tally of 200 appearances.
Sachin’s Records Broken by Root Before
Joe Root has been a formidable foe, already eclipsing some of Tendulkar’s notable achievements. Every record set is meant to be broken, and Root is currently the best at hunting down Sachin’s accomplishments.
- Joe Root is the leading run-scorer in the India vs England Test series. Root has scored a whopping 3,383 runs in the series as compared to Sachin’s 2,535.
- Joe Root also surpassed Sachin in the list of batsmen with the most runs in the 4th innings of Test cricket. Root has currently scored 1,848 runs in the 4th innings as compared to Sachin’s 1,625.
- Joe Root also holds the record for the most Test centuries scored on home soil. Root has scored 24 Test centuries in England grounds as compared to Sachin’s 22 centuries in front of the Indian crowd.
- Root is the fastest to reach 13,000 Test runs in terms of matches played. He achieved this milestone in a record 153 matches.
Conclusion
As Joe Root continues his relentless pursuit of cricketing immortality, the question isn’t whether he can surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s monumental tally, but rather when.
Root has showcased the consistency, skill, and hunger it requires to even come close to being uttered in the same breath as Sachin. The record that once seemed untouchable is now within realistic reach, and Tendulkar’s crown may have a new bearer.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
