5 November 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has shared his views on England’s star batter Joe Root moving closer to his long-standing record for the most runs in Test cricket. Tendulkar praised Root’s batting abilities and revealed that he had recognised the English cricketer’s potential during his very first Test appearance against India in 2012.
Speaking during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Reddit on November 3, Tendulkar said that he had always rated Root highly and believed from the beginning that the England batter would achieve great things in international cricket.
“I’ve always rated him very highly and it was evident to me in his first Test match that he was going to make it big!” Tendulkar said.
Root is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket, with 14,278 runs in 169 matches and 309 innings. He is 1,643 runs behind Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 runs, which the Indian legend achieved in 200 Test matches.
The possibility of Root breaking one of cricket’s most celebrated records has attracted considerable attention among fans and former players.
Sachin Tendulkar Recalls Joe Root’s Test Debut
Interestingly, Tendulkar was part of the Indian team when Joe Root made his Test debut against India in Nagpur in December 2012.
Root made an impressive start to his Test career, scoring 73 runs off 229 deliveries in the first innings. He remained unbeaten on 20 runs in the second innings as the match ended in a draw.
Tendulkar recalled that Root’s performance during his debut had immediately caught his attention. According to the Indian batting great, the young English batter showed qualities that indicated he could become a major player in international cricket.
More than a decade later, Root has established himself as one of the most consistent Test batters of his generation.
Joe Root Needs 1,643 Runs to Break Tendulkar’s Record
Joe Root currently occupies the second position on the all-time Test run-scoring list. His tally of 14,278 runs puts him within 1,643 runs of Tendulkar’s historic record.
Tendulkar finished his Test career with 15,921 runs in 200 matches and 329 innings. His record has remained at the top of the list since his retirement from international cricket in 2013.
Root’s consistent performances over the years have brought him closer to the milestone. His ability to score runs against different opponents and in challenging conditions has made him one of England’s most important batters.
However, Root has previously indicated that individual records are not his primary focus and that his priority remains helping England win Test matches.
Tendulkar Names Joe Root Among His Favourite Overseas Batters
During the same Reddit AMA session, Tendulkar was also asked to name his favourite non-Indian batters.
He selected three prominent international cricketers: England’s Joe Root, England’s Harry Brook and Australia’s Steve Smith.
The selections highlight Tendulkar’s appreciation for the batting abilities of players from different cricketing nations.
Root, in particular, has consistently demonstrated his ability to adapt to different playing conditions and deliver performances across challenging Test series.
Sachin Tendulkar Suggests Changes to ODI Cricket
Apart from discussing Joe Root and his Test record, Tendulkar also shared his thoughts on the future of One-Day International (ODI) cricket.
The former Indian captain suggested dividing the traditional 50-over format into two separate innings of 25 overs per team.
Under his proposed system, both teams would retain their 10 wickets across the entire 50 overs rather than receiving separate wickets for each innings. He also recommended using only one ball throughout the match.
Explaining his idea, Tendulkar said the change could help maintain a better balance between bat and ball, particularly in matches affected by dew.
He believes that the proposed format would give both batting and bowling sides a more balanced opportunity to perform under similar playing conditions.
Tendulkar also expressed concern about the growing advantage enjoyed by batters in modern limited-overs cricket and stressed the need to protect the role of bowlers.
Can Joe Root Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Historic Record?
The race for the highest number of Test runs has become an interesting talking point in international cricket.
With 14,278 runs already to his name, Root needs another 1,643 runs to move past Tendulkar and become the highest run-scorer in Test history.
Breaking the record would be a major achievement for the England batter, who has already established himself among the most successful players in the longest format.