Joe Root Test Career: Records vs Kohli and Tendulkar

Few questions divide cricket fans quite like the greatest Test batter debate. For England supporters, Joe Root’s name is now firmly in that conversation — not just for his elegance, but for the sheer weight of runs he has piled up. By early 2026, Root had reached 13,777 Test runs and 41 centuries, placing him alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. This article compares Root’s Test career with Virat Kohli and Tendulkar, examines his record-setting run, and looks at what lies ahead for the Yorkshire batter.

Full Name: Joseph Edward Root · Born: 30 December 1990 · Test Runs (England record): Most by any England player · Role: Top-order batter · Captaincy: England Test team 2017–2022

The table below captures Root’s essential biographical and career data drawn from verified sources.

The implication: Root’s statistical foundation already places him among the all-time greats.

Will Joe Root pass Sachin Tendulkar for all-time Test runs scored?

Current Test run tally of Joe Root

By early January 2026, Root had accumulated 13,777 Test runs at an average of 50.83, with 41 Test centuries (NDTV Sports). He became the ninth batter overall to reach 22,000 international runs, according to the Times of India.

Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record

Sachin Tendulkar retired with 15,921 Test runs, 51 centuries, and an average of 53.79 (Cricbuzz). Root currently trails by 2,144 runs.

Projection and required runs per year

Root, 34, would need to average about 900 runs per year over the next 2–3 seasons to surpass Tendulkar. He has already produced five 1,000-run Test years — only Tendulkar has more (ESPNcricinfo). His 41st Test century in Sydney tied Ricky Ponting for third on the all-time list, behind Jacques Kallis (45) and Tendulkar (51).

The implication: Root’s chase is realistic but requires sustained excellence into his late 30s.

How does Joe Root compare to Virat Kohli in Test cricket?

Two careers, one format: the numbers tell a clear story of Root’s sustained accumulation versus Kohli’s earlier peak.

Sources: Sportskeeda, NDTV Sports, ESPNcricinfo

Test batting average comparison

Root’s average of 50.83 comfortably leads Kohli’s 46.85 (Sportskeeda). The gap has widened since Kohli’s form dipped after 2019.

Centuries and double centuries

Root has 41 Test centuries to Kohli’s 30, and both have one double century. Root’s highest (254) equals Kohli’s best.

Performance in away conditions

Root has scored centuries in Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies. He scored his first Test hundred in Australia on 4 December 2025 at the Gabba (Wikipedia). Kohli has strong records in Australia and England but fewer away centuries overall.

The pattern: Root’s Test legacy already outpaces Kohli’s in volume and consistency, though the broader cricketing comparison remains nuanced.

How much does Joe Root earn and what is his net worth?

Root’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed, but his income streams are known. He holds a Category A central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), worth approximately £800,000 per year (Wikipedia). He also has endorsement deals with New Balance, Vitality, and RBC.

IPL and other league earnings

Root has not played in the Indian Premier League since 2019 and has not been bought at auction in recent years. His absence from the IPL limits his earning potential compared to contemporaries like Kohli, who earns from an IPL contract and endorsements.

Endorsements and net worth estimate

Estimates from sports business sites (not publicly verifiable) place Root’s net worth between £10 million and £15 million. However, as noted, his exact financial details remain private.

What this means: Root’s financial choices reflect his commitment to Test cricket over T20 riches, shaping a legacy defined by format prioritisation.

What has happened to Joe Root? Recent career updates

Resignation as Test captain in 2022

Root stepped down as England Test captain in April 2022 after a period of poor results. He later said he enjoyed “going back to just batting” (The Guardian).

Return to form under Ben Stokes

Under new captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, Root’s batting flourished. He scored 18 Test centuries in 91 innings from 2021 to October 2024, a rate comparable to his best years (ESPNcricinfo).

2024 and 2025 season performance

Root’s 262 in Multan in 2024 took him past 1,000 Test runs for the year (ESPNcricinfo). According to Wikipedia, he became the second-highest Test run-scorer in history in July 2025 after the Manchester Test against India (Wikipedia). By January 2026 he had 41 Test centuries.

“I’ve really enjoyed going back to just batting and being a part of this team.”

— Joe Root, speaking to The Guardian (2023)

Where does Joe Root live and other personal details?

Residence in Sheffield or elsewhere

Root was born and lives in Sheffield, Yorkshire (Wikipedia).

Family: wife and children

He is married to Carrie Cotterell; the couple have a son named Alfred (Wikipedia).

Age and early life

Born 30 December 1990, Root attended King Edward VII School and played for Yorkshire’s age-group teams before his professional debut.

Timeline: Joe Root’s career milestones

• 30 December 1990 – Born in Sheffield
• 13 December 2012 – Test debut vs India in Nagpur
• May 2013 – First Test century (104 vs New Zealand)
• February 2017 – Appointed England Test captain
• August 2021 – Becomes England’s all-time Test run scorer
• April 2022 – Resigned as Test captain
• 2023–2025 – Continued as top-order batsman, scoring heavily
• January 2026 – 41st Test century, tied with Ricky Ponting

The timeline shows a career defined by steady accumulation followed by an exceptional late-career surge.

What’s clear and what’s unclear about Joe Root’s career

The balance of known facts versus open questions reflects Root’s ongoing career — the confirmed achievements are substantial, but the uncertainties around longevity and financial details persist.

Quotes from the game

“Joe Root is England’s greatest ever Test batsman, and his stats in the last few years are remarkable.”

— Michael Vaughan, speaking to BBC Sport (2024)

“Root’s post-captaincy renaissance has been extraordinary — he’s playing at a level that puts him among the all-time greats.”

— ESPNcricinfo analyst (2024)

For England’s Test side, the choice is clear: keep Root in the top order and let him continue rewriting the record books, or risk disrupting a machine that is still producing runs at an elite pace. For Root personally, the decision to prioritise Test cricket over T20 leagues has defined his legacy, even if it cost him millions.

För en detaljerad titt på Joe Roots uppgång till andra plats, se vår analys av de ledande testrun-samlarna.

Frequently asked questions

These answers provide a quick reference to Root’s career highlights and personal details.