Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has publicly acknowledged the trajectory of England’s Joe Root, confirming he always believed the batter was destined for significant achievements. During an interactive session on Reddit, Tendulkar revisited his impressions of Root from the latter’s debut Test match against India in Nagpur back in December 2012. Reflecting on that encounter, where the young English player scored 73 in his first innings, Tendulkar stated, "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!"
As of November 2026, Joe Root has established himself as a dominant figure in international cricket, currently sitting in second place on the all-time list for Test run-scorers. With 14,278 runs accumulated over 169 matches and 309 innings, Root is steadily narrowing the gap to Tendulkar’s record of 15,921 runs, which the Indian icon set over 200 matches and 329 innings. Root now requires an additional 1,643 runs to overtake the milestone that has remained the highest in the format since Tendulkar’s retirement.
The rivalry between the two records has already seen a shift in other statistical categories. Root recently moved ahead of Tendulkar in the total count of Test half-centuries, reaching his 69th milestone in September 2026. Tendulkar, who held the record with 68 fifty-plus scores, noted the achievement while discussing the contemporary state of the game. During the same interaction, Tendulkar also highlighted his preferred non-Indian batters, naming Joe Root alongside Harry Brook and Steve Smith as players he currently holds in high regard.
Beyond the discussion of individual batting milestones, Tendulkar took the opportunity to advocate for structural changes in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. The former captain argued that the format requires an overhaul to maintain a better balance between bat and ball, especially in regions where dew significantly impacts match conditions. He proposed a shift from the traditional 50-over structure to a format divided into two 25-over innings per team. Under this system, Tendulkar suggests that teams should retain their 10 wickets for the full duration of the 50 overs, rather than resetting after the first half.
Tendulkar’s vision for the game includes using a single ball for the duration of the entire match, a move he believes would ensure consistency and fairness. "My suggestion is simple. Split the 50 overs into two innings of 25 each. But keep 10 wickets for the full 50 overs and use just one ball throughout. That way the contest between bat and ball stays alive, and both teams get to bat and bowl under the dew," he explained. According to the batting legend, such adjustments are necessary to preserve the competitive health of the sport, particularly in environments where bowlers might otherwise find it increasingly difficult to compete against aggressive batting tactics.
As Root continues his pursuit of the prestigious all-time run record, his consistency remains a subject of intense focus within the cricketing world. Having debuted against a legendary Indian lineup over a decade ago, the English captain's evolution into a record-challenging batter reflects the high regard held by his predecessors. Whether or not he successfully eclipses Tendulkar’s remaining Test run total remains to be seen, but the validation from the man who holds the record underscores the profound impact Root has made on the longest format of the game.
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