Monty Panesar firmly believes that Joe Root is destined to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary record of 15,921 Test runs. Root, who recently leapfrogged Ricky Ponting’s career tally of 13,378 runs during the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, now stands at 13,543 runs — just 2,378 short of the Indian maestro.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Monty Panesar expressed strong confidence in Root’s longevity and hunger for runs. “He’ll break it, and he’ll go past it. I think he’ll end up scoring 18,000 Test runs. He’s only 34 and could easily play for six more years. That’s enough time to score another 4,000-5,000 runs,” said the former England spinner, comparing Root’s potential career span to Tendulkar, who played till 40.

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Joe Root’s form since 2021 has been nothing short of elite. He’s been the most consistent batter in Test cricket over the past five years, amassing 5,720 runs in 61 matches at an average of 56.63, with 22 centuries and 17 fifties.

His dominance extends into the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) as well, where he is the highest run-getter with 6,080 runs in 69 matches at an average of 52.86, featuring 21 centuries and 22 half-centuries. What stands out is Joe Root’s conversion rate — a significant improvement in recent years.

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Until 2020, he had 17 hundreds and 59 fifties. As of now, he boasts 49 centuries and 66 fifties, showcasing a remarkable transformation in his batting approach. With the Ashes 2025-26 on the horizon, the 34-year-old will aim to conquer his last frontier — a Test hundred in Australia. If Root continues his current trajectory, even Tendulkar’s iconic record may not remain out of reach for long.