Joe Root to Cheteshwar Pujara: Seven players who slammed most Test hundreds since Sachin Tendulkar's final Test century

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Test cricket is often regarded as the pinnacle of the sport. The purest format of the game, witnessed significant evolution over the decades. India's batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar dominated this format during an era vastly different from today's.

There has been a change in playing style, pitch conditions and the impact of other cricket formats, especially T20, which have transformed the approach to Test cricket in the current era, whereas the games are getting finished within three or four days.

During Sachin's era, Test cricket was all about patience, perseverance, technique and getting accustomed to challenging or testing conditions. Sachin Tendulkar stands top of the list in terms of scoring the most runs in Tests - 15,921 runs (51 centuries).

Sachin Tendulkar's final Test century came against South Africa at Cape Town on January 4, 2011. The legend retired from all forms of cricket in November 2013 after playing his 200th Test match. Let's take a glimpse at the players with the most Test centuries since Sachin's last Test hundred.

1. Joe Root: He has emerged as the most prolific Test batter in the modern era, delivering the goods for the England cricket team both at home and overseas conditions.

Root, who is England's leading run-scorer in Tests with 12,578 runs tops the list with 35 centuries in Test cricket. He stepped down as Test captain in 2022 and since then, he elevated his batting to the next level.

2. Steve Smith: The Australian is undoubtedly one of the best Test batters in the modern era. The unorthodox batter comes second on the list as he smashed 32 Test centuries since 2011.

He has consistently been Australia’s backbone in red-ball cricket. The bowlers have often found it incredibly tough to outsmart him. Smith, who has played several match-winning innings for Australia, scored 9685 runs at an average of 56.97.

3. Kane Williamson: New Zealand's run machine, Kane Williamson has proven himself as one of the most elegant and dependable batters of the modern era. The senior pro has played crucial innings in all parts of the world and adapting his game based on the conditions is one of his biggest strengths.

The 34-year-old who is the all-time leading run-scorer for New Zealand in Test cricket, scored 8881 runs at an average of 54.1. He scored 31 Test centuries since 2011.

4. Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli, who is inarguably the best batsman across all three formats in world cricket at the moment, has amassed as many as 29 centuries since Sachin Tendulkar's last Test century in 2011.

Notably, Kohli's fitness and discipline played a big part in his success, letting him to maintain a high level of performance across formats. Kohli scored 8871 runs in Tests at an average of 48.71.

5. David Warner: Warner was one of the most entertaining and effective openers in modern Test cricket during his cricketing venture, he has often taken an aggressive route to score quickly and put pressure on the bowlers right from the get-go.

The former Australian opener comes next on the list with 26 centuries since Sachin Tendulkar's final Test century. The left-handed aggressive batter scored 8786 runs at an average of 44.6.

6. Cheteshwar Pujara: Pujara has been India’s reliable wall in Test cricket for several years. His ability to occupy the crease for long periods and tire out bowlers has been crucial for India in home and overseas victories. He comes next on the list with 19 Test centuries since Sachin's last Test century. Pujara scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.6.

7. Azhar Ali: Azhar Ali has been a consistent performer for Pakistan during the playing days of his cricketing career. His steady presence has been vital for the team's Test batting.

The former Pakistan captain has often been the anchor when the team needed stability. He scored 19 Test centuries since 2011. Overall, he scored 7142 runs at an average of 42.3.