Joe Root’s heartwarming tribute to Sachin Tendulkar wins hearts amid world record chase: ‘Serious, serious player’

Joe Root's heartwarming comments about batting great Sachin Tendulkar is winning hearts online as the England batter hunts the legend's world record of most runs in Test cricket. Root is just about 2000 runs short of Tendulkar's tally of 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches.

Root has so far scored 13,943 runs in 163 matches, needing just 1,978 runs more to surpass Tendulkar as the highest run-getter of all time in Test cricket.

'Remarkable what Sachin Tendulkar achieved'

Having scored 3148 runs since 2023 in 35 Tests, 35-year-old Root has shown no signs of slowing down and there's a strong chance he will be on the summit in the next two years. But for Root, even being in conversation with Tendulkar is a massive achievement.

Root praised Tendulkar for his longevity and remarkable ODI batting record, along with Test heroics, in a recent interview.

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"Well, I get asked it enough times now that I can’t really ignore it even if I try to," Root told The Athletic. "It’s remarkable what Sachin Tendulkar achieved in the game.

"You have to believe me when I say that to even be in the conversation with him is enough for me. The guy made his Test debut before I was born and played in my Test debut! His longevity in itself is remarkable and then you look at the runs he got in Test cricket… but not only that, he’s got 50 ODI hundreds, too."

The fact that Tendulkar achieved most of his batting feats while being India’s only consistent source of hope during the first decade of his career is not lost on Root.

"All the while he (Tendulkar) was the most famous man in India. Serious, serious player," Root added.

Root showing the deserved respect to Tendulkar has warmed the hearts of the Indian fans.

Root's next opportunity to swell his Test batting numbers would arrive soon when England start their three-match Test series against New Zealand at Lord's. The first match starts on 4 June.