Joe Root's words reflect on the scale of Sachin Tendulkar's excellent record and his legendary cricket career. However, he showed humility despite nearing a record to break Sachin's once-unbreakable-looking record.
England have evolved their batting approach in recent times under their coach Brendon McCullum, who believes in a more aggressive approach even in the longest format of the game. However, one batter who stayed firm on a more technical approach was Joe Root, the most legendary Test cricketer of this generation.
Joe Root is one such cricketer who has constantly been piling records in his Test career and has achieved immense success. He currently is the second-highest run-scorer in Test history and is nearing the massive record set by the former Indian star, Sachin Tendulkar.
Joe Root bows down to Sachin Tendulkar's massive legacy in world cricket.
During a recent interview with The Athletic, Joe Root heaped praise on Sachin Tendulkar, pointing out his longevity in the game of cricket. He reflected on the fact that the question that is asked of him the most often in recent times is about him chasing the Indian legend's record.
"Well, I get asked it enough times now that I can’t really ignore it even if I try to," he said.
Root claimed that Sachin was a star for India and had made his debut even before Root was born, and went on to play in Root's debut game against India. This was a reflection on the fact that Tendulkar's legacy transcended generations.
"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 English cricketer added.
"Most famous man in India": Joe Root reflects on Sachin Tendulkar's career
Currently, Root sits in the second spot with 13943 runs and is only behind Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 15921 Test runs. On the record, that once looked unbreakable, Root is inching closer to becoming a memorable name in the history of world cricket.
Joe Root next heaped praise on the former Indian legend for having been an icon for global cricket throughout a long span from 1989, his debut year, to 2013, his retirement. He was not only getting runs but was also working successfully under unimaginable pressure due to his stardom.
Root acknowledged that, saying, "All the while, he was the most famous man in India. Serious, serious player." However, Root's humility shows why he is often regarded as one of the greatest players of this generation and one of the best sportsmen of the decade.
Joe Root sets high standards of discipline for future cricketers
Joe Root is not among other modern-day cricketers who are built upon aggression or theatrics, but rather built a career citing consistency and massive determination for improvement.
At the peak of his career before his twilight years, Root reflects on his approach to always keep a sound technical approach to the game and the hard work it takes to maintain such high standards. Speaking on his current form, Root said, "I’m always looking to evolve, to try and add things to my batting."
"To make sure that I feel as compact and as technically sound as I can be, so that when the actual games come around, I can think tactically and play what’s right in front of me rather than worrying about technical stuff or anything else out in the middle. It sounds so simple, but when I’m at the crease, I just want to be playing the game," he added.
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