Joe Root Set to Surpass Legends, Inches Closer to Sachin Tendulkar in Test Cricket Records

As the fourth Test between India and England approaches, all eyes are not just on the series scoreline but also on Joe Root, who is on the brink of creating history. Set to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester from July 23, the match could see Root leapfrog three legendary batsmen—Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting—in the list of highest run-scorers in Test cricket.

How Close is Joe Root?

Root currently stands at:

• 13,259 runs in 156 Tests at an average of 50.8

Here's who he could surpass in Manchester:

• Rahul Dravid – 13,288 runs (just 29 runs ahead)

• Jacques Kallis – 13,289 runs (30 runs ahead)

• Ricky Ponting – 13,378 runs (119 runs ahead)

If Root scores 120 runs, he will rise to second in all-time Test run scorers, leaving only Sachin Tendulkar ahead.

Sachin Tendulkar’s Benchmark

• Matches: 200

• Runs: 15,921

• Average: 53.78

If Root crosses Ponting, he’ll be 2,542 runs behind Tendulkar, a gap that looks conquerable considering Root’s current form and age.

Root’s Form in the Series

• Matches: 3

• Runs: 253

• Average: 50.60

• Scores: 1 century, 1 fifty

Root has been a consistent performer in the ongoing series and will be vital for England as they lead 2-1 and look to clinch the series in Manchester.

What’s at Stake in Manchester

• A win for England will seal the series 3-1.

• A win for India will level the series 2-2, keeping their hopes alive.

• For Root, it’s a shot at personal glory, breaking into cricket’s most elite list.