Joe Root Makes History

England star Joe Root has added another major milestone to his remarkable career, becoming the second-fastest batter to reach 23,000 international runs and moving past Sachin Tendulkar in the process. Here’s the latest record, the numbers behind it and how Root’s career now compares with two Indian legends.

Joe Root has done it again.

The England batting great entered another elite statistical club during the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Durham, reaching 23,000 international runs and surpassing India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar in terms of how quickly the milestone was achieved.

Root reached the landmark in his 521st international innings, one innings faster than Tendulkar, who required 522 innings to reach 23,000 runs.

There is, however, one batter still ahead of both of them.

Virat Kohli reached 23,000 international runs in just 490 innings, making him the fastest player to reach the milestone.

The latest achievement adds another chapter to Root’s increasingly intriguing statistical rivalry with Tendulkar.

Joe Root Reaches 23,000 International Runs

Root needed only three runs to reach the historic figure in England’s ODI against Sri Lanka.

He completed the milestone with a boundary, becoming:

• The first Englishman to score 23,000 international runs
• The eighth batter overall to reach the mark
• The second-fastest player to achieve it
• The latest major-name batter to move ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in a statistical category

Root ultimately finished on 23,041 international runs, placing him eighth on the all-time international run-scoring list.

Fastest to 23,000 International Runs

The one-innings difference between Root and Tendulkar makes the latest record particularly notable, although the comparison involves players from different generations and different international schedules.

Root vs Sachin: Another Record Changes Hands

This isn’t the first time Joe Root has overtaken Sachin Tendulkar in an important statistical category.

Earlier in September, Root broke Tendulkar’s record for the most half-centuries in Test cricket.

During England’s third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston, Root scored an unbeaten 62, taking his Test half-century tally to 69.

Tendulkar had previously held the record with 68 Test fifties.

That means Root has now surpassed Tendulkar in two significant statistical categories within a matter of weeks:

Most Test half-centuries:
Joe Root — 69
Sachin Tendulkar — 68

Fastest to 23,000 international runs:
Joe Root — 521 innings
Sachin Tendulkar — 522 innings

And there is another much bigger record that has made the Root-Tendulkar comparison a major talking point.

Joe Root Is Chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Run Record

While Root has already moved ahead of Tendulkar in several statistical categories, the biggest prize remains the all-time Test run record.

Sachin Tendulkar finished his Test career with 15,921 runs, a record accumulated across 200 matches.

Root currently has 14,278 Test runs, leaving him 1,643 runs behind Tendulkar’s mark, according to the latest figures reported after the Sri Lanka ODI milestone.

That puts Root within striking distance of one of the most famous batting records in Test cricket.

However, reaching it will depend on how many Tests Root continues to play, his batting output and England’s future schedule.

Root Has Already Broken Several Test Records

Root’s pursuit of Tendulkar isn’t limited to run totals.

The England batter has steadily moved up the Test record books throughout his career.

He has already become England’s highest Test run-scorer, while his latest 69th half-century made him the leading Test half-century maker in the history of the format.

Earlier in September, Root also moved past Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting in the all-time Test appearances list after playing his 169th Test for England.

Another remarkable part of his record is his performance at home.

Root has become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket on home soil, with more than 7,500 Test runs in England, according to recent statistical reporting.

Virat Kohli Remains Ahead in the 23,000-Run Race

While Root has overtaken Tendulkar for the second-fastest 23,000 international runs, Virat Kohli remains comfortably ahead in terms of innings required.

Kohli reached the milestone in only 490 innings, compared with Root’s 521 and Tendulkar’s 522.

Root’s latest milestone therefore creates an interesting three-generation statistical comparison:

Virat Kohli → 490 innings
Joe Root → 521 innings
Sachin Tendulkar → 522 innings

However, these figures measure only the speed at which the players reached the milestone. They do not by themselves establish which batter had the better career.

Joe Root’s International Career by the Numbers

Root’s 23,000-plus international runs have been accumulated across Test and limited-overs cricket.

His career has been particularly dominant in Tests, where he has established himself as one of England’s greatest-ever batters.

Latest reported figures

The figures are based on reporting following his September 2026 milestones and can change as he continues playing.

Joe Root’s ODI Career Often Gets Overlooked

Much of the discussion around Root focuses on his extraordinary Test career.

But his ODI numbers are also significant.

Before the Sri Lanka match, Root had accumulated 7,826 ODI runs, averaging above 51 and scoring 20 ODI centuries. He is already England’s leading ODI run-scorer.

That is important because Root is often described primarily as a Test specialist, despite having built a substantial limited-overs record.

His 23,000 international-run milestone demonstrates the scale of his overall career rather than simply his Test output.

What Makes Root’s Latest Record Significant?

The 23,000-run milestone matters for several reasons.

1. He Is England’s First 23,000-Run Batter

Root has become the first Englishman to cross 23,000 international runs.

That places him alongside some of the most productive batters in international cricket history.

2. He Passed Tendulkar for Speed

The margin is extremely narrow, but Root required one fewer innings than Tendulkar.

Root: 521 innings
Tendulkar: 522 innings

3. Only Kohli Is Faster

Virat Kohli’s 490-innings mark remains the benchmark for reaching 23,000 international runs fastest.

4. Root’s Test Numbers Are Still Growing

Unlike Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket in 2013, Root remains active.

That means his numbers will continue changing.

Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar: Test Numbers

The biggest statistical comparison remains Test cricket.

*Root’s Test-century figure is based on the latest reporting and can change as he continues playing.

Tendulkar still leads Root in total Test runs and centuries, while Root has now moved ahead in Test half-centuries.

The match-count difference is also important: Tendulkar played 200 Tests, while Root has reached 169.

Can Joe Root Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Test Run Record?

This remains one of the biggest statistical questions in Test cricket.

Root currently sits at 14,278 Test runs, compared with Tendulkar’s 15,921.

That leaves a gap of 1,643 runs.

Root is also only 31 Tests short of Tendulkar’s 200-Test appearances, based on the latest figures.

Whether he eventually surpasses Tendulkar will depend on factors including:

• How long Root continues playing
• England’s Test schedule
• His batting form
• Injuries and workload
• The number of innings available to him

For now, the record remains Tendulkar’s.

Root’s Record-Breaking September 2026

September has been particularly significant for Root.

September 12

Root scored an unbeaten 62 against Pakistan at Edgbaston, taking his Test half-century tally to 69 and moving past Tendulkar’s 68.

England won the match by eight wickets and completed a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan.

September 22

Root reached 23,000 international runs against Sri Lanka, becoming the second-fastest batter to reach the landmark.

He did it in 521 innings, moving past Tendulkar’s 522.

Two major milestones in the same month have reignited the discussion surrounding Root’s place among the greatest run-scorers of the modern era.

The Road Ahead for Joe Root

At 35, Root remains an active international cricketer and is continuing to add to his numbers.

The immediate statistical target that will attract the most attention is the gap to Tendulkar’s 15,921 Test runs.

Root needs 1,643 more Test runs to move past that mark.

At the same time, his 23,000 international runs have already placed him among an extremely exclusive group.

The next names above him on the overall international run-scoring list include Rahul Dravid, who has 24,208 international runs. Root therefore has another significant statistical target ahead of him.

Joe Root’s Latest Records: Quick Summary

Final Take

Joe Root’s latest achievement is another reminder of how prolific his international career has become.

Reaching 23,000 international runs in 521 innings has moved him ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in the speed-to-milestone list, although Virat Kohli remains the fastest at 490 innings.

More importantly, Root has recently taken ownership of Tendulkar’s long-standing record for most Test half-centuries, moving to 69 against Tendulkar’s 68.

The larger story, however, is still unfolding.

Root is currently 1,643 Test runs behind Tendulkar’s 15,921, meaning the English batter’s remaining career could determine whether another of Tendulkar’s iconic records changes hands.

For cricket fans, that makes Root’s next few years particularly significant—not because every statistic tells the same story, but because an active batter is steadily rewriting records established by one of the sport’s most statistically dominant players.

FAQs

How many international runs does Joe Root have?
Joe Root reached 23,000 international runs against Sri Lanka and finished the milestone with 23,041 runs, according to the latest reporting.

Did Joe Root surpass Sachin Tendulkar?
Yes. Root reached 23,000 international runs in 521 innings, one innings faster than Tendulkar’s 522. He also recently surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 68 Test half-centuries by reaching 69.

Who is the fastest to 23,000 international runs?
Virat Kohli is the fastest, reaching the milestone in 490 innings. Joe Root is second with 521 innings, followed by Sachin Tendulkar with 522.

How many Test runs does Joe Root need to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record?
Root has 14,278 Test runs against Tendulkar’s 15,921, leaving a gap of 1,643 runs based on the latest reported figures.

How many Test fifties does Joe Root have?
Root currently has 69 Test half-centuries, one more than Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 68.

Is Joe Root the highest Test run-scorer for England?
Yes. Root is England’s highest Test run-scorer and has continued extending that record during his ongoing career.