Chasing the Little Master: Can Joe Root go past Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Run Tally?

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Joe Root, who is one of the most prolific batters of the modern era, has firmly established himself as a dominant force in Test cricket. Among the Fab 4 - Joe Root, Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson, the England international seems to be taking his game to new heights in the longest format.

With his exceptional form and consistent record-breaking performances, the question arises - Can Joe Root surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s historic Test run tally of 15,921 runs?

The UK-born has been in incredible form over the years, consistently delivering the goods against top teams and in challenging conditions. He currently stands as England’s leading run-scorer in Tests, with 12,578 runs to his name.

During Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, Root edged past Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472 Test runs to become England’s leading run-scorer in Tests. Meanwhile, the gap between Root and Tendulkar’s tally is currently 3,344 runs.

Joe Root’s Route to Greatness: Can he eclipse Tendulkar's record in Tests?

With Root still in prime form and at the peak of his career, the possibility of him going past Tendulkar’s record is realistic. If he continues this form, piling up 3,344 more runs over the next few years seems achievable.

At 33 years old, he still has several years of cricket left in him. If he can maintain his fitness and avoid major injuries, he could comfortably play until his late 30s, similar to what Sachin Tendulkar went about with his business.

On top of that, stepping down as England’s Test captain in 2022 worked well in Root’s favour as it helped him focus solely on his batting. The cricket fraternity has seen him channel his energy entirely into improving his game.

When Root moves into his late 30s, maintaining his current form and intensity could become increasingly tough because even the legendary Tendulkar himself faced challenges towards the end of his career, with fluctuating form and physical fatigue.

As a result, Root will need to manage his workload in order to stay fresh such that he plays long enough. After the end of Day 3, Root said he wants to keep enjoying the game as long as possible.

"I see myself playing test cricket for a lot longer. It's not like I'm going to get to a certain mark or a number and say, 'Right, I'm done now.' I just want to keep enjoying the game, keep playing," Root said.