England’s batting maestro Joe Root has added yet another remarkable achievement to his illustrious Test career. During the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe, Root etched his name in the record books by becoming only the fifth cricketer in history to surpass 13,000 runs in Test cricket.Root reached the milestone on the opening day of the match at Lord’s, notching up his 28th run with a composed single off Zimbabwe pacer Victory Nyauchi in the 80th over. The 34-year-old eventually ended his innings with 34 runs, a modest knock but one of massive historical significance.With this feat, Root not only solidified his standing as the leading run-scorer among active Test cricketers but also moved a step closer to eclipsing one of cricket’s most enduring records Sachin Tendulkar’s 15,921 Test runs.How much runs does Root need to surpass Sachin Tendulkar?Tendulkar, the legendary Indian batsman, retired in 2013 having amassed 115,921 runs over a 24-year career. Root, now sitting just 2,915 runs short of that legendary mark, has reignited conversations around whether he could eventually surpass Tendulkar and become the all-time highest run-scorer in Test history.Can Joe Root reach Tendulkar's all time run scoring record?Several factors suggest Root’s pursuit of the record is well within reach. Firstly, age is on his side. At 34, Root has time to extend his career by at least four to five more years, mirroring Tendulkar who played until he was nearly 40. Secondly, his consistent run of form in recent years has been a cornerstone of England’s Test success, showing little sign of waning.Moreover, Root has maintained excellent fitness levels and has largely avoided major injuries an essential trait for longevity in international cricket. His unwavering focus on the traditional format further strengthens his case as a serious contender to break Tendulkar’s record.Looking ahead, England’s upcoming five-Test home series against India looms large. With plenty of batting opportunities against one of the world’s strongest bowling attacks, Root has the chance not only to close the gap further but also potentially climb to second place on the all-time list by surpassing Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting.
