Joe Root is capable of breaking Sachin Tendulkar's most Test runs record: Wasim Jaffer

England wrecked India’s dream of winning a Test series on English soil in over 15 years as they vanquished the visitors in the fifth Test at Edgbaston. The hosts got over the line in pursuit of a massive target of 378 runs in the fourth innings, thanks to impeccable centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root. While Bairstow has been receiving plaudits for his latest transformation in Tests, former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has stated that Root can surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s run tally in Tests.

The former England captain was the leading run-scorer of the protracted five-match Test series with 737 runs to his name. He was the orchestrator behind England’s record chase against India as the hosts drew level in the series. Root has been in terrific form over the last couple of years in red-ball cricket and has scored an incredible amount of runs in red-ball cricket.

Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer believes that the Yorkshireman can break Sachin’s record of most runs in Test cricket. Jaffer stated that though the English and Australian players finish their careers early, Root can reach the milestone if he plays at the current level for the next 5-6 years.

“He can do it if he plays that long. He is only 31 years old. We all know that the career of English and Australian players isn’t long. But, if he plays another 5-6 years, I feel that he is capable of breaking the record,” Jaffer said during an interaction on ESPNcricinfo.

Joe Root has overtaken Virat Kohli and Steve Smith in Tests

The Englishman added another feather in his cap after the triumph in Birmingham Test, as he drew level with Hashim Amla and Michael Clarke’s tally of 28 centuries in Tests. The no. 1 ranked Test batter in ICC rankings overtook contemporaries Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, who have both amassed 27 Test tons.

Root currently has 10,458 runs in 121 Tests and faces the challenging task of overhauling Tendulkar’s monumental tally of 15,921 runs in the traditional format of the game.