Mohit Khakhar
sporting news|08-01-2026
Joe Root is the highest run-scorer in Test cricket among active players. The Englishman is a Test specialist and has scored most of his career runs in the red-ball format.
The veteran English batter is currently featuring in the five-match Ashes Test series against Australia Down Under. Root has a plethora of records in front of him ready to be broken, but there's something bigger that the English batter has his eyes on.
Joe Root is the closest to equalling or surpassing the great Sachin Tendulkar's run tally in Test cricket. The Englishman has reserved himself for the longer formats and is rarely unavailable for selection for the Test squad.
As of January 2026, Root still ranks second on the all-time list of Test run-scorers, having pulled clear of Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting in the India vs England Test series.
As the ace England batter climbs a mountain to catch Tendulkar, The Sporting News analyses the feasibility of any such feat.
How many runs does Joe Root need to overtake Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs?
Even matching Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs would be an incredible feat, let alone surpassing the tally.
Tendulkar, having played 200 Tests in his career, has scored close to 16000 runs in the longest format.Joe Root needs 1978 runs to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's Test career runs tally. Having played 37 fewer Tests, the 34-year-old would have to perform as he did in his prime, in the twilight years of his cricketing career.
How many Tests does Joe Root play in a calendar year (on average)?
Over the last five years, Joe Root has played 65 Tests. Averaging 13 Test matches in a year, Joe Root would play around 23 Test innings each year.
Will Joe Root leave Sachin Tendulkar behind to become the highest run-scorer in Tests?
Root is expected to play around 23 Test innings on average each year. He averages 51.23 runs per Test innings. Considering that Root scores at least 1000 Test runs every year, he would have to play until at least 2028 to stand a chance of beating Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in Test history.
Joe Root turned 35 in late December 2025. To even reach closer to Tendulkar's landmark total of 15921, Root will have to play till he is at least 38.
