Joe Root continues his impressive run in Test cricket, he edges closer to surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most Test runs. Tendulkar, with 15,921 runs, remains the all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket, but Root, at 12,404 runs, is within striking distance. At 33 years old, the former England captain has plenty of time to close the gap, barring any major setbacks such as a significant injury or a dip in form.
Joe Root has been in sensational form over the past few years, prompting many to believe he could eventually overtake Tendulkar. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has already backed Root to surpass the legendary Indian cricketer. However, some former players, like Ian Bell, have chosen not to speculate on the comparison.
Bell, regarded as one of England’s finest No. 3 batsmen, praised Root’s achievements but avoided making predictions about whether he would break Tendulkar’s record. Ian Bell stated in an interview, “He’s played incredibly well in the last 12 months. I don’t think he’s overthinking too much what’s ahead. He’s just sort of living in the moment as we are.”
He added, “To think that he can even get close to someone like Sachin, a real great of the game, someone that we’ve all admired growing up, as a hero to not just people and fans in India, but around the world. To think that Joe could get close is an amazing achievement on his behalf. He’ll go down as England’s greatest batsman. There’s no doubt whether he does get to Sachin or not.”
Root has already cemented his place as one of England’s greatest batters. In a recent series against Sri Lanka, he notched up twin centuries at Lord’s, bringing his Test century count to 34. This achievement places him in elite company, with only Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Rahul Dravid having scored more Test centuries.
While it remains uncertain whether Root will surpass Tendulkar’s monumental record, his current trajectory indicates that he could challenge some of the most significant records in the game before his career ends.
