Joe Root closing in on Sachin Tendulkar's Test cricket record, just 492 runs away from history

Root's exceptional performance has placed him as the sole active player in the top 10 highest Test run-scorers' list, giving him a notable edge over renowned players such as Smith, Kohli, and Williamson. This remarkable feat has enabled Root to surpass Tendulkar's outstanding tally of 15921 runs, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Test cricket.

PlayerMatInnsNORunsHSAveSR10050  Sachin Tendulkar2003293315921248*53.7854.045168  Ricky Ponting168287291337825751.8558.724162  Jacques Kallis166280401328922455.3745.974558  Rahul Dravid164286321328827052.3142.513663  Joe Root 151276231288626250.9357.373664   Joe Root frontrunner to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's tally

The English batter hit his peak in the post-COVID era and became a force to reckon with for England. Handing over the captaincy to Ben Stokes also helped him focus more on his batting. Since the start of 2021, he has scored 5063 runs in 54 Tests at an astonishing average of 56.25, including 19 centuries. He made the necessary adjustments to his batting and added flair to it, which made him the best in the business.

Former England cricketers, including Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan, have often backed Root to break Tendulkar's record of most runs in Test cricket. Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78 in 200 Test matches between 1989 and 2013. He is the only player to have scored more than 50 centuries in the format, retiring with 51 tons and 68 half-centuries.

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