Will Joe Root break Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs in Test cricket?

As Joe Root engineered his 38th Test century during the fourth Test of a breathtaking series against India at Old Trafford, England's leading Test run-scorer moved above Ricky Ponting into second place in the all-time Test run-scorer list.

Root climbing into the runner-up position seemed inevitable.

The more pertinent question has always been whether the Yorkshireman can surpass the man stationed at the top: Sachin Tendulkar.

As Root produced another incredible England century, his accumulation of runs reopened the prospect of him emulating Tendulkar and earning the title - statistically at least - as the greatest batter to grace Test cricket.

Accumulating 15,921 runs from 200 Test matches with an average of 53.78, longevity played a key factor in Tendulkar's extraordinary tally.

Root's played in 42 fewer matches than Tendulkar but trails the India legend by over 2,000 runs.

On the face of it, the 34-year-old has a mountain to climb if he even wants to be considered in the Tendulkar bracket, but if he can prolong his career like Tendulkar did, there's every chance he will eventually be knocking on the door.

When will Joe Root reach Sachin Tendulkar's record?

Root is currently averaging 50.80 per Test innings and with the volume of Test matches quite high during the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, he is on course to breach the 15,000 barrier once the final comes around at Lord's in 2027.

Assuming Root scores his average in every innings he plays from hereon in, the Englishman would need to play in 54 more Test innings to surpass Tendulkar's total of 15,921 runs.

That would suggest Root would need to play for at least three more years to get within touching distance. From the start of 2022 to the end of 2024, England's most prolific run-maker accumulated an impressive 3,441 runs, which included 1,556 last year.

England wrap up their series against India before heading Down Under to face Australia in the Ashes, where Root's average drops to 35.68.

In 2026, they're scheduled to host New Zealand in June and Pakistan in August before heading to South Africa in December. The Test team will commence 2027 by visiting Bangladesh in February.