In a moment where cricket’s legend met its rising star, Sachin Tendulkar—the record-holder for the most Test runs (15,921 from 200 Tests) and 51 centuries—finally spoke out about Joe Root’s extraordinary journey to becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Root currently stands at 13,543 runs, just 2,378 runs shy of Tendulkar’s towering tally.
Tendulkar’s First Glimpse of Greatness
During an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit, Sachin was asked what he remembered about Joe Root when he first saw him bat—and whether he had any inkling of Root’s future success. With grace and clarity, he replied:
“To have gone past 13,000 runs is a remarkable achievement, and he’s still going strong. When I saw him for the first time in Nagpur in 2012 during his debut Test, I told my teammates that they were watching the future captain of England. What impressed me most was the way he was able to assess the wicket and how he rotated the strike. I knew at that very moment that he would be a big player.”
The Significance Behind the Words
- Debut in the Making: Root’s Test debut unfolded in December 2012 at Nagpur—Tendulkar’s home turf during the twilight of his career—making the first sighting of the young talent especially poignant.
- Technique That Stood Out: Sachin was particularly struck by Root’s maturity—his ability to read the pitch, rotate the strike, and anchor an innings even under pressure—a hallmark of high-class Test batting.
- A Leader in the Making: Tendulkar’s early prediction—that Root would be a future England captain—echoes the path Root later followed, taking the reins of the Test side in 2017.
Root’s Ascent and the Road Ahead
- Surpassing Legends: On day three of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford in July 2025, Root added to his name a commanding 150, propelling himself past cricket great Ricky Ponting and into second place on the all-time Test run-scorers list.
- Fastest to 13,000: Root became the quickest player ever to reach 13,000 Test runs, achieving it in only 153 Tests—four fewer than Jacques Kallis, who previously held the record.
- Cricket’s Future Icon: Root’s consistency—39 Test hundreds, refined technique, and ability to perform under varied conditions—cement his status not just as a great of his generation, but potentially among the all-time legends.
Sachin Tendulkar’s well-timed praise for Joe Root encapsulates more than just admiration—it’s a validation from one of cricket’s most revered figures to a player who’s shaping his own legacy. Root’s journey from debutant to the second-highest run-scorer in Tests illustrates not only his skill, but also a quiet, relentless pursuit of excellence.
