Cricket

Joe Root, England's batting maestro, has set his sights on surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record for most Test runs, but his primary focus remains on contributing to his team's success.Root, who is on the verge of becoming England's leading Test run-scorer, is just 71 runs away from eclipsing Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472. With a few more years of playing time, Root could potentially challenge Tendulkar's elusive mark of 15,921 Test runs.However, personal milestones are not Root's driving force. He is solely focused on producing performances that help England win matches. "I think you judge yourself on how many games you can affect and how many games you can help win," Root said. "That's a big driver for me."Root's mindset is to succeed in any conditions, which he believes is enough motivation to keep him going. "I enjoy it at the moment," he added.For Root, achieving a milestone and then retiring is not something he considers. He is determined to enjoy the game and use that as a driving force to continue playing Test cricket. "I see myself playing Test cricket for a lot longer," Root said. "I just want to keep enjoying the game and keep playing."England are currently in Pakistan for a three-match Test series, which begins in Multan on Monday. The visitors will be without their regular captain, Ben Stokes, in the opening Test due to a hamstring injury. Ollie Pope will serve as the stand-in skipper for the Multan Test.

Despite retiring in 2013, Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed king of Test cricket, holding the record for most runs scored in the format. With 15,921 runs to his name, Tendulkar's legacy continues to inspire aspiring cricketers worldwide.Among active players, India's Virat Kohli, Australia's Steve Smith, and England's Joe Root stand as the top three batters with the most Test runs. Root leads the pack with 12,402 runs, followed by Smith (9685 runs) and Kohli (8871 runs).Kohli, Smith, and Root have been hailed as potential successors to Tendulkar's throne, with many experts predicting they could break his record. However, Smith and Kohli have recently experienced a significant dip in form.Former Australian star Brad Hogg has expressed doubts about Kohli's ability to reach Tendulkar's heights. "I just don't think Virat is going to get there," Hogg said. "He's lost his momentum, and he needs to turn it around in the next 10 Test matches or he's going to drop off."In contrast, Hogg believes Root has the potential to surpass Tendulkar's record. "Joe Root has 146 Test matches with 12,000 runs," Hogg said. "Sachin Tendulkar made nearly 16,000 runs in 200 Test matches. That's 4,000 runs in 66 Tests. I think Joe Root can go close to toppling that."Root's consistent performance in Test cricket has earned him widespread admiration. "Watch out, Joe Root is on the move to beat Sachin Tendulkar," Hogg added. "I think quietly he'll have that in the back of his mind to try and topple that little unique stat."

Joe Root, England's batting maestro, is poised to etch his name as the greatest Test batsman in the country's history, according to his former teammate Ian Bell. Even if Root falls short of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's colossal record of 15,921 runs, Bell believes his legacy is secure.Root recently surpassed Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to move into sixth place on the all-time list of Test run-getters. His remarkable consistency and ability to adapt to different conditions have earned him widespread admiration."He's played incredibly well in the last 12 months. I don't think he's overthinking too much what's ahead. He's just sort of living in the moment as we are," Bell said in an exclusive interview.Bell acknowledged the daunting task of matching Tendulkar's record, but he emphasized that Root's achievements are already extraordinary. "To think that he can even get close to someone like Sachin, a real great of the game, someone that we've all admired growing up, as a hero to not just people and fans in India, but around the world," Bell said. "To think that Joe could get close is an amazing achievement on his behalf."England's recent adoption of the "Bazball" approach, characterized by aggressive batting and a fearless mindset, has unlocked the potential of the current players, according to Bell. "From a fan point of view, you have to look at the results. Since Brendon (McCullum) has come into this England side and (Ben) Stokes has took over, the results have been absolutely fantastic," he said.However, Bell stressed the importance of winning away from home in the next cycle of the World Test Championship. "I'm sure they've got one eye on the next 12 months, which has five Test matches (against) India at home, which will be a huge challenge," he said. "India are probably the best team in the world at the moment, and then, Australia away. Those 10 Test matches on the road will be hugely important for that group of players and something they're gearing themselves up for."Bell also highlighted the consistency shown by the Indian team, which has won 17 series in a row at home and its last two series in Australia. "That's what we've seen with India at the moment. They've managed to be able to win away from home as much as anyone and that's the reason why they are the No 1 team in the world at the moment."While acknowledging that England's white-ball revolution has led to diminishing batting averages in Tests, Bell believes the next generation of players is adapting to the demands of modern cricket. "You could definitely have that argument. The next generation of players are growing up with a big diet of T20 cricket in early age and have a look at cricket in England at the moment, there’s a lot of short format cricket in the early age group," he said.Bell singled out Virat Kohli as the player who plays his favorite shot, the cover drive, the best among his peers. "It's very hard to look past Virat Kohli, that is for sure. Not just his cover drive, but the way he plays, his desire for batting, his desire actually in competition and how he goes about his cricket," Bell said. "When he plays his cover drive, whatever format of the game, it's a good one to watch."

Virat Kohli's recent struggles in the first Test against Bangladesh have reignited the debate about his status as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg believes that Kohli's chances of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 15,921 Test runs are slim.Hogg's assessment is based on Kohli's recent form, which has seen him score only 319 runs in 17 innings across formats this year. In contrast, Joe Root has scored 986 runs in 20 Test innings this year, including four centuries and as many fifties.Hogg believes that Root is the only batsman who has a realistic chance of breaking Tendulkar's record. The 33-year-old Englishman has scored 12,402 runs in 146 Tests, and is 3519 runs behind Tendulkar. Kohli, who will turn 36 in November, has 8871 runs in 114 Tests."I just don't think Virat is going to get there," said Hogg. "I think he's lost his momentum, and the momentum that he's lost has been for a number of years now. He's got to turn around in the next 10 Test matches, or he's going to drop off."Kohli's Test form has been on a downward trend since 2020. In 52 Test innings across 30 Tests between 2020 and 2024, he has scored only 1669 runs at an average of 32.72, including 2 hundreds and 8 half-centuries.Hogg believes that Kohli's struggles are due to a combination of factors, including age, injuries, and a change in technique. He also believes that Kohli is putting too much pressure on himself to perform."He's trying to do too much," said Hogg. "He's trying to be the best batsman in the world, and he's trying to do it all himself. He needs to relax and let the game come to him."Kohli has a crucial 10-Test run in the next four months, starting with the ongoing series against Bangladesh. If he can regain his form and score some big runs, he may still have a chance of surpassing Tendulkar's record. However, if he continues to struggle, it is unlikely that he will ever reach the same heights as the legendary Indian batsman.

Dhruv Jurel, the rising star of Team India, recently shared his experience of facing sledging from England's Joe Root during the Ranchi Test earlier this year. Jurel, who made his Test debut in the series, recalled the incident that occurred when he was batting cautiously on 30 not out."I couldn't sleep that night," Jurel said. "I was thinking about how I could get my half-century, but I ended up getting around 36 before they took the new ball."The next morning, Jurel faced James Anderson, who immediately began sledging him. "He was all aggressive and was continuously sledging," Jurel said. "I didn't understand half of those words because of the British accent."To Jurel's surprise, his former Rajasthan Royals teammate, Joe Root, also joined in the mind games. "I asked him, 'Why are you sledging me?'" Jurel said. "He replied, 'We are all playing for our country now.'"Despite the sledging, Jurel remained focused and went on to score 90 runs in the first innings, followed by a crucial 39 not out in the second. His contributions helped India beat England by five wickets, with Jurel earning the man of the match award.Jurel's performance in the Ranchi Test showcased his resilience and determination. Despite the pressure of making his Test debut and facing sledging from experienced opponents, he remained composed and played a key role in India's victory.The 24-year-old has since been named in India's 16-man squad for the upcoming 1st Test against Bangladesh. His inclusion is a testament to his talent and the potential he holds for the future of Indian cricket.

Joe Root, the cornerstone of England's batting lineup, has been experiencing a remarkable run of form in Test cricket. As part of the illustrious "Fab Four" alongside Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith, Root has amassed more Test runs than any of his contemporaries. Recently, he surpassed Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming England's most prolific century-maker.However, in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, Root's performance faltered, with scores of 12 and 13 in both innings. England's subsequent eight-wicket loss has raised concerns about the team's over-reliance on Root.Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed his disappointment with England's batting performance in the third Test, highlighting Root's pivotal role. "This week really hit home to me how important Joe Root is to this batting lineup," Vaughan wrote in his column for Telegraph. "His batting is the key. All these flamboyant players around him get flamboyant fifties. But without the glue at No 4 getting the huge amount of runs he does, they are knackered."Vaughan emphasized that Root cannot be expected to rescue the team every time, especially against formidable bowlers like India's Jasprit Bumrah and Australia's Pat Cummins. He also pointed out Root's inability to score a century in Australia despite his prolific record elsewhere."He can't do it every week, and he didn't do it this week," Vaughan added. "Jasprit Bumrah enjoys bowling at Root, and could severely limit his output next summer. The same goes for Pat Cummins in Australia, where Root has never scored a hundred. England have to have ways of succeeding when Root doesn't make big runs. On the basis of this game, they don't."Root has played 14 Tests in Australia, but a century has eluded him so far. However, he has scored 9 half-centuries down under, amassing 892 runs at an average of 35.68.

Legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticized recent comments suggesting that England's Joe Root could surpass Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-scorer in men's Test cricket. Gavaskar argues that such remarks are disrespectful and that the Indian cricket community should respond with aggression.Gavaskar points out that it is common for crowds to be silent when their team is not performing well, regardless of nationality. He suggests that the criticism of Indian crowds is unfair and that it should be countered with a more assertive approach.The former England captain Michael Vaughan had previously stated that Root could become the top run-getter in Tests and that the BCCI would use its influence to ensure that an Indian batter retained the record. Gavaskar dismisses this claim, stating that the BCCI is committed to promoting Test cricket and that the IPL's success does not diminish its interest in the longer format.Gavaskar also questions the logic behind the suggestion that Test cricket would be better if Root broke Tendulkar's record. He argues that Tendulkar's achievements are a testament to the greatness of Indian cricket and that it is not necessary for an Englishman to hold the record for the sport to thrive.Finally, Gavaskar expresses skepticism about the ICC's decision to host the World Test Championship final at Lord's in 2025. He notes that the venue has been changed twice before when England was not likely to qualify for the final. Gavaskar suggests that the ICC may be biased towards England and that the final should be held at a neutral venue.

England's Joe Root, widely regarded as the heir apparent to Sachin Tendulkar's Test run-scoring throne, has downplayed his team's recent loss to Sri Lanka with a witty analogy.After England's eight-wicket defeat in the final Test of the three-match series, Root, who was named England's Player of the Series and the 'Player of the Summer,' drew a comparison to the popular rock band Coldplay."We are not always going to get it right all of the time," Root said. "For 90% of the summer, we have. We have shown what a good team we can be. I don't think we played our best cricket this week, and that is going to happen from time to time. Coldplay can't be number one every week."Despite the loss, Root finished the series with 375 runs, adding to his 291 runs against the West Indies earlier in the summer. At 33, Root is arguably playing the best cricket of his red-ball career.Root praised the England Test team's performance throughout the summer. "We are constantly learning and evolving as a group, and it is nice to contribute to that," he said. "It is important we are authentic to what we are as a team and what brings out the best in our individual players."With 10,354 Test runs to his name, Root is the only active cricketer with more than 10,000 Test runs. He is also the closest active player to Tendulkar's record of 15,921 Test runs.If Root continues to perform at his current level, he could potentially challenge Tendulkar's record in the coming years. However, Root remains humble about his chances of surpassing the Indian legend."It's a long way away," Root said. "I'm just trying to focus on the next game and the next series. I'm not looking too far ahead."

England's Joe Root, named Player of the Summer after the series win against Sri Lanka, expressed his delight at the team's progress and his own enjoyment of the game. Despite a loss in the third Test, Root praised the team's efforts and the emergence of new talent.Root's impressive performance in the Test summer, with 666 runs in six games, including three centuries and three fifties, earned him the Player of the Series honor. He also surpassed Alastair Cook's record of 33 Test centuries, becoming England's most successful batter in terms of centuries.In the third Test, Sri Lanka's fine century by Pathum Nissanka and inspired bowling effort secured an eight-wicket win. Nissanka's 127* and a 69-run partnership with Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka chase down the target of 219.Root acknowledged the challenges faced in the third Test but emphasized the team's commitment to finding ways to improve. He praised the contributions of new faces like Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, and Josh Hull, highlighting the depth of talent in English cricket."It is what you pride yourself on as a senior player and as a batter. Great to see this team constantly finding new ways to look at the game and keep evolving and keep getting better," said Root. "To see some new faces come in and put their best foot forward shows the depth that we've got within this format in English cricket."Root's enthusiasm for the game and his belief in the team's potential are evident in his comments. He expressed his hope that the team's success will continue and that he will continue to enjoy playing for England.