Can Joe Root catch up with Sachin Tendulkar by the end of his career?

Root’s compatriot, Alastair Cook, was the last batter to evoke the question. Running 33, Cook had gathered nearly 12,500 runs before abruptly calling it quits in 2018. Building on Cook’s consistency in relishing the chunk of Test matches served to England across Future Tours Program (FTP) timelines, Root has taken the Tendulkar pursuit into unfamiliar territory. Cook believes that this ‘generational’ talent can surpass 16,000. But is it as realistic as it appears?

At 33 years 298 days, around the same time when Cook chose to hang up his boots, Root is galloping past his contemporaries. Over 3000 runs divide Root and the next-highest active Test run-scorer, Steve Smith (9685). In the last two weeks in Multan, he surpassed Cook’s tally to become England’s highest run-scorer. Before the close of 2024, Root will likely become the fifth batter to reach the 13,000 mark.

Presently, 3205 runs separate Root from Tendulkar at the top. In only 12 years since debut, Root has played 270 innings, only 59 fewer than Tendulkar’s tally in 24 years between 1989 and 2013. That’s an average of nearly 22.5 innings per year compared to Tendulkar’s 13.7.

Cricket – Second Test – England v Sri Lanka – Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, Britain – August 31, 2024 England’s Joe Root acknowledges the crowd as he walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket, caught out by Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

But fans can hold their horses for a little longer.

After the third Test in Pakistan, England are slated to play 25 Tests (12 at home, 13 away) by March 2027, offering Root a maximum of 50 innings. He will be 36 by then, and even if he incredibly turns up for every one of these 25 games on the course, Root could still fall short of Tendulkar.

The deficit sounds achievable quicker than in 59 innings at his present zest – he has been averaging 55.80 since 2020, an acceleration compared to his current career average of 51.27. However, Root will still need to maintain and bat above his current career average, in the upcoming phase to get to Tendulkar at the same pace as Tendulkar.

Obstacles ahead

In the potential road ahead, Root could play New Zealand twice (home and away), Pakistan again (home in 2026), face Zimbabwe in a Test for the first time in May 2025, and tour South Africa and Bangladesh in late 2026.

Wedged between these are two hefty challenges – facing India at home and the Ashes tour in November 2025.

Assembling Root’s aggregates from the previous edition of each assignment provides 2283 in 44 innings. Repeating the same scales could still hold him 800-1000 runs behind the Indian maestro by early 2027.

The last cycle included an all-timer five-match home series against India in 2021-22, where he amassed 737 runs in five Tests. Root could be touted to repeat the feat next year, but a decisive contest awaits against India’s seam spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has knocked him over nine times in Tests, five of which have come in England.