Joe Root's Historic Century: A Step Closer to Tendulkar's Record

Joe Root's recent century at Old Trafford has not only solidified his place in cricket history but also brought him closer to Sachin Tendulkar's all-time run record. With this achievement, Root has surpassed several cricket legends and continues to demonstrate his exceptional skill and consistency. His performance against India has set new benchmarks, making him the highest centurion against this opponent. As he continues to break records, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates when he will challenge Tendulkar's revered total. Discover more about Root's journey and his impact on the game.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 26, 2025, 10:52 IST

Joe Root Shines at Old Trafford

During the fourth Test match against India at Old Trafford, Joe Root etched another remarkable chapter in his cricketing journey. His stunning century not only bolstered England's middle order but also solidified his position in the annals of cricket history. With this achievement, Root has amassed a total of 13,409 runs in Test matches, placing him second on the all-time list, just behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who leads with 15,921 runs.

This milestone allowed Root to surpass three cricketing icons: Rahul Dravid (13,288 runs), Jacques Kallis (13,289 runs), and Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs), elevating him three spots higher in the rankings of Test run-scorers.

Root's Consistency and Records

Root's century marked his 38th in Test cricket, placing him alongside Kumar Sangakkara. Only three players have achieved more centuries in this format: Tendulkar (51), Kallis (45), and Ponting (41). His remarkable consistency is further underscored by his 104 scores of fifty or more, surpassing both Ponting and Kallis, who each have 103, with Tendulkar leading with 119.

Against India, Root has proven to be a formidable opponent, achieving his 12th century against them, the highest by any batsman, breaking Steve Smith's record of 11. Historically, only Don Bradman (19 against England) and Sunil Gavaskar (13 against West Indies) have scored more centuries against a single opponent.

Root's Dominance at Home

Interestingly, nine of Root's twelve centuries against India have come on home soil, making him the highest-scoring centurion against a specific opponent in England. He has surpassed Bradman, who had eight centuries against England in Australia.

Root's 23 Test centuries in England tie him for the most by any player in a single country, a feat matched only by Ponting in Australia, Kallis in South Africa, and Mahela Jayawardene in Sri Lanka.

He has accumulated 7,195 Test runs in England, ranking third among players in a single nation, with only Ponting (7,578 in Australia) and Tendulkar (7,216 in India) ahead of him.

A Fortress at Old Trafford

At Old Trafford, Root has established a stronghold, with his latest innings bringing his total runs at the venue to 1,128, making him the first player to surpass 1,000 runs in Tests at this historic ground. This achievement adds to his tally at Lord's, where he has scored 2,166 runs.

Root's ability to tackle world-class bowlers is evident in his encounters with Ravindra Jadeja. In 37 innings, he has scored 588 runs against the Indian spinner, being dismissed only nine times. This is the highest number of runs scored by any batsman against a specific bowler in Test history, surpassing Steve Smith's 577 runs against Stuart Broad.

Aiming for Greatness

At the age of 34, Joe Root is not just breaking records; he is redefining what it means to be a Test batsman. With his relentless drive and solid technique, the question is not if he will challenge Tendulkar's revered total of 15,921 runs, but rather when he will achieve it.