It is increasingly likely that England captain Joe Root will one day surpass Sachin Tendulkar as the highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, claimed the record in 2008 when he overtook Brian Lara’s 11,953 runs and has held it ever since. Over a career spanning more than 17 years, Tendulkar amassed 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, setting a standard that has long seemed almost unassailable.
During the intervening years, very few batsmen have come close. Former England opener Alastair Cook was a potential challenger, but he retired in 2018, aged 34, after scoring 12,472 runs in 161 Tests. Now, Joe Root has emerged as the player with the genuine chance to dethrone Tendulkar, combining longevity, consistency, and remarkable skill.
The top five run-scorers in Test cricket are as follows:
| Player | Country | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 200 | 329 | 15,921 | 248* |
| Joe Root | England | 163* | 297 | 13,937 | 262 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 168 | 287 | 13,378 | 257 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 166 | 280 | 13,289 | 224 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 164 | 286 | 13,288 | 270 |
Currently, after the first innings of the ongoing Sydney Test, Root has 13,937 runs. To surpass Tendulkar, he still requires 1,984 runs. At 35, Root has played 37 fewer Tests than Tendulkar did, which means that breaking the record will demand consistent performance well into the latter stages of his career.
Examining Root’s recent form, from 2021 to 2025 he played 65 Tests—averaging approximately 13 Tests and 23 innings per year—with the following annual output:
| Year | Tests | Innings | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15 | 29 | 1,708 |
| 2022 | 15 | 27 | 1,098 |
| 2023 | 8 | 14 | 787 |
| 2024 | 17 | 31 | 1,556 |
| 2025 | 10 | 18 | 805 |
Over these five years, Root has averaged 1,190 runs per year at 55.12, higher than his career average of 51.23—demonstrating that he remains in peak form despite approaching the twilight of his career.
England’s remaining schedule in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle offers Root further opportunities:
| Time | Opponent | Venue | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | New Zealand | Home | 3 |
| August 2026 | Pakistan | Home | 3 |
| December 2026 | South Africa | Away | 3 |
| February 2027 | Bangladesh | Away | 2 |
This cycle includes 11 remaining Tests, giving Root a maximum of 22 innings to close the 1,984-run gap. Assuming he continues at his career average, he may need to play until 2028, by which time he will be 38. Six of these Tests are at home, where his recent average is 68.72, potentially giving him a significant advantage.
Cricket, however, is rarely predictable. Injuries, form fluctuations, and other unforeseen events can affect outcomes, and whether Root chooses to extend his career by two or three more years is a crucial question. Nevertheless, the prospect of watching Root chase Tendulkar’s monumental record has become one of the sport’s most compelling narratives.