Earlier, there were expectations that the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s records could be easily surpassed by the Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli. But, the 36-year-old didn’t even manage to reach closer to Sachin’s achievements and announced retirement from red-ball cricket.
Still, the record of the former Indian cricketer isn’t safe. This is because England’s in-form batter Joe Root is on a mission to break one of the biggest records of Tendulkar in test cricket that remained unbeaten for more than a decade.
Although these two-star cricketers are separated by generation, both have established a successful career through uncompromised determination, tremendous achievements, and a long-lasting impact on fans at global stage.
Root and Tendulkar’s journey from their humble beginnings to record-breaking achievements unveils the story of how grit, glory, and greatness served as the matching pillars of their legacy.
Foundation of Dreams
Ramakant Achrekar, the childhood coach of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, played a crucial role in shaping his cricket career. One of the main reasons why Tendulkar was hailed as the ‘Little Master’ at that time was that Achrekar trained him to face bowlers twice his age. Sachin rose to fame when he marked his test debut as a 16-year-old for India against Pakistan in November 1989.
One year after Tendulkar’s international debut, Joseph Edward Root was born on 30th December 1990. Likewise to Sachin, Root was encouraged by his family and club members to start cricket at an early age and marked his first-class debut representing Yorkshire at the age of 19. His cool temperament and classy techniques against spin and pace helped him rise to fame instantly and marked his test debut against India on 22nd December 2012.
Challenges During Rising Stages
Tendulkar’s test debut in 1989 saw a teenager struggle against the experienced Pakistani bowlers as he managed to score just 15. But he refused to give up and took nearly nine months to score his maiden international ton, which includes an unbeaten 119-run knock against England at Old Trafford. This was the starting point for the right-handed batter to establish his dominance against the world’s best bowlers.
However, Root’s story has been slightly different as he scored his maiden fifty (73 runs) in a test against India in his debut match. He scored his first test century against New Zealand on 24th May 2013 at Headingley, Leeds. Joe’s 104-run knock was a signal of both tactics and psychological strength that established his brand as a consistent batter in red-ball cricket.
A Drought of Centuries in Root and Tendulkar’s Test Careers
After scoring his 35th test century on 10th December 2005, Sachin Tendulkar experienced one of the driest phases of his career by not scoring a ton in the longest format for more than a year. It was in May 2007, when Tendulkar scored his next century in tests against Bangladesh after a long wait of 17 innings.
In comparison, Joe Root also experienced a century drought in tests during 2020, ever since scoring his first ton since 2013.
Career Best Knocks that Defined Glory in Tests
In December 2004, Sachin Tendulkar played his career best knock by scoring an unbeaten 248-run knock from 379 balls (including 35 fours) against Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.
Whereas, Joe Root in recent times achieved his career best score against Pakistan in the opening clash of the 3-match test series in October 2024. The 34-year-old smashed 262 runs out of 375 balls (including 17 fours) at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Statistical Milestones: Comparing the Greatness
Here is a brief comparison of Joe Root and Tendulkar’s stats in test cricket:
| Player | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best Score | 200s, 100s and 50s |
| Joe Root (ENGLAND) | 13,087 Runs (154 Matches and 281 Innings) | 50.92 | 57.51 | 262 | (200s: 6, 100s: 36, 50s: 66) |
| Sachin Tendulkar (INDIA) | 15,921 Runs (200 Matches and 329 Innings) | 53.79 | 54.09 | 248 | (200s: 6, 100s: 51, 50s: 68) |
Root vs Tendulkar Stats Comparison After 154 Test Matches
After playing 154 test matches, Sachin Tendulkar’s average and number of centuries were much ahead at this stage, but his overall runs and number of innings played are less compared to Joe Root, and here is a detailed comparison:
| Information | Joe Root | Sachin Tendulkar |
| Runs (After 154 Matches) | 13,087 | 12,273 |
| Innings (After 154 Matches) | 281 | 252 |
| Average | 50.92 | 54.30 |
| 100s | 36 | 40 |
Big Record of Sachin Tendulkar to be Broken Soon by Joe Root
Sachin Tendulkar, who concluded his test cricket career with 15,921 Runs, averaging at 53.78, played 200 matches and 329 innings overall.
On the other hand, Root needs to play another 48 innings, which might be around 24 to 25 test matches. By scoring at his current average, the English batter can easily amass another 2,400 runs. But still, it wouldn’t be enough to surpass Tendulkar’s tally.
In other words, Root requires another 2,835 runs and goes past Sachin’s numbers in tests to become the leading run scorer in tests.
Final Verdict
Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar are from different eras and have exhibited unwavering spirit under pressure.
While Root’s journey continues to reach unprecedented heights in test cricket, Tendulkar’s legacy will always remain a benchmark for the present and upcoming generation of cricketers. Overall, Root and Tendulkar’s stories of grit, glory, and greatness are reminiscent of those true legends who rose to fame not just by runs and records, but their courage to prove to the world that nothing is impossible
