Joe Root faster than Sachin Tendulkar to 23k international runs, Rahul Dravid close

ByTech Word News

Joe Root became the second fastest batsman to reach 23,000 international runs, reaching the milestone in 521 innings during England’s first ODI against Sri Lanka in Durham on Tuesday.

Root surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s mark of 522 innings to reach the milestone, only ahead of fellow Indian Virat Kohli who took 490 innings to get there.

FASTEST TO 23,000 INTERNATIONAL RUNS

  • Virat Kohli — 490 innings
  • Joe Root – 521 innings
  • Sachin Tendulkar — 522 innings
  • Ricky Ponting – 544 innings

The milestone came during an innings in which Root scored 44 off 52 balls and hit five fours. He looked composed for most of his stay at the crease, spinning his strike and finding the boundary when given the opportunity.

Root now has 23,041 international runs and is eighth on the all-time list. He is 1,167 runs behind Rahul Dravid, who is seventh with 24,208 runs.

MOST RUNS IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

  • Sachin Tendulkar (India) — 34,357 runs — 782 innings
  • Virat Kohli (India) — 28,359 runs — 629 innings
  • Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 28,016 runs – 666 innings
  • Ricky Ponting (Australia) — 27,483 runs — 668 innings
  • Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 25,957 runs – 725 innings
  • Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 25,534 runs – 617 innings
  • Rahul Dravid (India) — 24,208 runs — 605 innings
  • Joe Root (England) — 23,041 runs — 521 innings

HOW ROOT PLAYED HIS 44 RUN KNOCK

Root started cautiously before gradually finding his rhythm against Sri Lanka’s pace and spin. He opened his boundary account with a wrist whip over mid-wicket before making two fluent runs through the offside against Asitha Fernando.

The former England captain was also effective against spin, spinning singles and pulling off a reverse sweep against Dunith Wellalage. He helped England reach 100 with a single off Dushmanth Chameer before going on to anchor the innings.

Root’s innings ended when debutant Sachindu Colombage produced a delivery that landed at relatively shorter length and pinched and turned sharply. The ball beat Root’s outside edge and hit top off-stump to give Colombage his first ODI wicket.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

22 Sep 2026 21:01 IST