Joe Root Plays Down Tendulkar Record Chase, Emphasises Focus on Team Success

 Manchester, July 26 – England’s senior batter Joe Root has downplayed suggestions that he is chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time Test run record, insisting that personal milestones will never take precedence over team success. Speaking after his masterful 150 against India in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Root reflected on his journey and reiterated that his focus remains firmly on helping England win matches.

With his latest innings, the 34-year-old surpassed legends Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, taking his tally to 13,409—just 2,512 runs shy of Tendulkar’s seemingly unassailable 15,921. Despite closing in on the record, Root was quick to dismiss the notion that it is a personal goal.

“It’s not something that I will focus on,” Root told the BBC. “Those sorts of things should look after themselves. The focus has to be about winning games.”

Reflecting on his only on-field encounter with Tendulkar during his Test debut in 2012, Root described the experience as unforgettable.
“He made his debut before I was born. To play in the same match as him was incredibly special,” Root said. “He was someone you admired, learned from, and to be in a series with him still playing was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Root also responded to the standing ovation he received from the Old Trafford crowd upon overtaking Ponting’s tally, acknowledging the attention but keeping his focus intact.

“You can’t really avoid it. The numbers are everywhere,” he joked. “But if you're concentrating too much on yourself, you’re not doing your job. These are things to reflect on later in your career. For now, there’s so much important cricket still ahead.”

Since the start of 2024, Root has averaged over 80 in Tests—a remarkable resurgence that, if sustained, could see him break Tendulkar’s record within the next three years.

Evolving Game and Mindset

Root also shared insights into how his approach to batting has evolved over the years. While his early career was shaped by technical discipline, his recent success stems from refined mental clarity and risk management.

“At the start, I was obsessed with technique—my hands, my head, alignment, trigger movement. But in this second phase, it’s about risk control and reducing dismissal modes while maintaining scoring output,” he explained.

This evolution, he said, came through years of experience and learning from failure.
“You’ve got to be honest with yourself. It’s easy to get emotional or self-critical, but cricket requires perspective. See the game for what it is, take stock, and apply those lessons.”

As Root continues to scale new heights in the cricketing world, his grounded perspective and commitment to the team's cause remain as unwavering as ever—even as he stands on the cusp of making history.