Tendulkar Backs Root’s Brilliance, Honours Pujara’s Resilience
Tendulkar praises Root, celebrates Pujara’s Test legacy.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has broken his silence on England’s Joe Root inching closer to his iconic Test run record of 15,921 runs from 200 matches. With 13,543 runs, Root, the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, is just 2,378 runs shy of surpassing Tendulkar’s monumental milestone. During a Reddit AMA session, Tendulkar was asked about his first impression of Root, who debuted against India in Nagpur in 2012. The ‘Master Blaster’ was effusive in his praise, recalling, “I told my teammates they were watching the future captain of England. His ability to assess the wicket and rotate the strike impressed me. I knew he’d be a big player.”
Tendulkar lauded Root’s “remarkable achievement” of crossing 13,000 Test runs, noting, “He’s still going strong.” Root’s steady climb up the run-scoring charts has sparked speculation about whether the England star, now 34, can challenge Tendulkar’s record, set over a 24-year career. Tendulkar’s gracious response highlighted Root’s tactical acumen and consistency, cementing his admiration for the Yorkshireman’s craft.
In the same breath, Tendulkar paid tribute to recently retired Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara, whose 15-year career ended after 103 Tests. Writing on X, Tendulkar hailed Pujara as a “pillar of the team” for his calm, courageous approach to Test cricket. “Your solid technique, patience, and composure under pressure were invaluable,” he wrote, singling out Pujara’s 521-run heroics in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where his 1,258-ball marathon, including a maiden Test ton in Australia, powered India to a historic 2-1 series win. “That triumph wouldn’t have been possible without your incredible resilience,” Tendulkar added.
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Pujara, known for grinding down bowling attacks, debuted in 2010 and became a Test specialist, though he was dropped from the side in recent years. Tendulkar wished him well, saying, “Congratulations on a wonderful career. Enjoy your second innings!” As Root chases history and Pujara’s legacy is celebrated, Tendulkar’s words underscore the enduring spirit of Test cricket.
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