Joe Root is the highest run-scorer in Test cricket among active players. The Englishman is a Test specialist and has scored most of his career runs in the red-ball format. Root played his last T20I game in 2019 and recently played an ODI match against the West Indies earlier this month.
The veteran English batter is currently featuring in the five-match Test series against India on home soil, which started on June 20. Root has a plethora of records in front of him ready to be broken, but there's something bigger that the English batter has his eyes on.
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Joe Root is the closest to equalling or surpassing the great Sachin Tendulkar's run tally in Test cricket. The Englishman has reserved himself for the longer formats and is rarely unavailable for selection for the Test squad.
As of July 2025, Root ranks third on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, having recently overtaken Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid in the India vs England Test match at Old Trafford. He now trails only Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.
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As the ace England batter climbs a mountain to catch Tendulkar, The Sporting News analyses the feasibility of any such feat.
How many runs does Joe Root need to overtake Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs?
Even matching Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs would be an incredible feat, let alone surpassing the tally. Tendulkar, having played 200 Tests in his career, has scored close to 16000 runs in the longest format.
Joe Root needs 2512 runs to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs tally. Having played 43 fewer Tests, the 34-year-old would have to perform like he did in his prime, in the twilight years of his cricketing career.
| Player | Matches | Test runs |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 15921 |
| Joe Root | 157* | 13409 |
How many Tests does Joe Root play in a calendar year (on average)?
Over the last four years, Joe Root has played 51 tests. Averaging over 11 Test matches in a year, Joe Root would play around 22 Test innings each year.
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| Year | Test matches played |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 |
What is England's Test schedule for 2025-27 WTC cycle?
| Date | Opposition | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 20 June - 4 August | India | Home |
| 21 November - 8 January 2026 | Australia | Away |
| June 2026 | New Zealand | Home |
| August 2026 | Pakistan | Home |
| December 2026 | South Africa | Away |
| February 2027 | Bangladesh | Away |
Will Joe Root leave Sachin Tendulkar behind to become the highest run-scorer in Tests?
Averaging over 11 Test matches in a calendar year, Joe Root would play around 22 Test innings each year. He averages 50 runs per Test innings. Considering that Root scores at least 1000 Test runs every year, he would have to play until at least 2028 to stand a chance of beating Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in Test history.
Joe Root is 34 years old as of now in 2025. To even reach closer to Sachin's landmark total of 15921, Root will have to play till he is at least 38.