England most prolific batter Joe Root continues to carve his name into cricket’s history books with another record-breaking performance in the ongoing Lord’s Test against India.
Joe Root inches closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary Test records
On Day 1, Root crossed the 50-run mark for the 67th time in Test cricket, inching closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 68 half-centuries. The milestone came during Root’s 284th Test innings, a career defined by consistency and elegance. The very next morning, he resumed unbeaten on 99 and wasted no time getting to his 37th Test century, making him the active player with the most Test hundreds. He reached the milestone in 192 balls, displaying a blend of resilience and timing under pressure.
In doing so, he overtook Steve Smith’s count of 36 tons and added another feather to his illustrious cap. This knock also marked another significant moment in England-India Test history as Root became the first player to score 3,000 runs in Tests between the two sides. By scoring his 45th run on Day 1, he surpassed Tendulkar’s aggregate of 1,575 runs in England-India Tests on England soil, further cementing his dominance in this rivalry. With 11,500+ Test runs, Root is already among the top all-time run-getters, and discussions have now intensified over whether he can challenge Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 Test runs, a subject that has intrigued experts like Dinesh Karthik and Stuart Broad alike.
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Can Root surpass Tendulkar’s all-time Test legacy? Dinesh Karthik reveals
With every passing innings, Root continues to tighten the gap with Tendulkar, one of the most celebrated batters in cricket history. His recent form, marked by calm centuries and impactful partnerships, has reignited debates about whether he can eventually surpass the Indian maestro’s monumental Test records.
Root currently has 37 Test centuries, making him fifth on the all-time list and the only active player in the top five. Tendulkar’s record of 51 hundreds and 68 fifties in 200 Tests still stands as a colossal benchmark, but Root is steadily advancing. He has already crossed 11,500 runs in fewer Tests and maintains a healthy average.
Importantly, Root’s game is aging well; he continues to churn out runs across all conditions, and his hunger shows no signs of waning. His landmark 3,000 runs in England-India Tests, a record unmatched by any other player, highlights his dominance in bilateral rivalries. Both Karthik and Broad have acknowledged Root’s greatness, with Karthik suggesting that if Root stays fit and hungry, Sachin’s mountain of Test runs may no longer remain untouched. Only time will tell if Root can climb the final summit and eclipse a legacy once thought unassailable.
Following Root’s brilliant ton at Lord’s, a question was posed by the broadcaster: “He’s got 37 Test hundreds now, Kumar Sangakkara is at 38. How far can he go?” Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Dinesh Karthik didn’t hesitate to give a bold response. “I definitely feel Sachin Tendulkar’s 51 hundreds is very much in sight with the way he’s playing,” he said, pointing to Root’s incredible form and hunger for runs. Root, who is still only 34, has maintained peak form even after 13 years in international cricket. Karthik believed that with his current rhythm and fitness, Root can go the distance: “He’s still young. I’m sure he’s going to play a lot of Test cricket, so why not?,”