Dinesh Karthik Gives Verdict on Virat Kohli and Joe Root’s Race to Break Sachin Tendulkar’s Records
Former India cricketer and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach Dinesh Karthik has offered his assessment of two of modern cricket’s biggest statistical pursuits involving Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Sachin Tendulkar.
While Kohli is chasing Tendulkar’s remarkable record of 100 international centuries, England batter Root is closing in on Tendulkar’s long-standing mark of 15,921 Test runs.
Karthik believes Root has a strong chance of breaking Tendulkar’s Test record, but feels Kohli’s route to 100 international hundreds will be considerably more difficult.
Karthik Says Root Has a Good Chance
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik backed Joe Root to eventually surpass Tendulkar’s Test-run record.
Root has continued to produce runs consistently in Test cricket and remains an important part of England’s red-ball plans. His fitness and regular involvement in Test matches are two factors that Karthik believes work strongly in the English batter’s favour.
Root currently has 14,278 Test runs from 169 matches, leaving him 1,643 runs short of Tendulkar’s record.
Karthik pointed to England’s busy Test schedule and Root’s continued consistency as reasons why the record could realistically change hands.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter also noted that Root still appears physically capable of maintaining his high level of performance.
Why Kohli’s 100-Century Target Is More Difficult
Virat Kohli’s pursuit is different.
The former India captain has already established himself as one of the greatest batters in international cricket and has surpassed Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries.
However, Kohli needs to reach 100 international centuries to match Tendulkar’s overall record.
Kohli currently has 86 international hundreds, meaning he requires another 14 centuries to reach the historic landmark.
Karthik admitted that he would love to see Kohli achieve the feat but believes the challenge is extremely difficult.
One of the biggest factors is that Kohli has already retired from Test and T20I cricket and is now concentrating on ODIs. That significantly reduces the number of international innings available to him compared with Root, who continues to play Test cricket regularly.
Kohli Reaches Another Major Milestone
Despite the challenge of reaching 100 international centuries, Kohli continues to create history.
During India’s first ODI against the West Indies, he became only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score 15,000 runs in men’s ODI cricket.
Kohli reached the milestone in just 303 innings, considerably faster than Tendulkar, who required 377 innings to reach 15,000 ODI runs.
The achievement further underlined Kohli’s extraordinary consistency in the 50-over format.
Joe Root Closing in on Tendulkar’s Test Record
Root’s pursuit of Tendulkar’s Test record has become increasingly prominent over the past year.
Tendulkar finished his Test career with 15,921 runs, a record that has stood since his retirement in 2013.
Root, meanwhile, has continued accumulating runs at the highest level. His current tally of 14,278 puts him within striking distance of the Indian legend’s record.
Root’s continued participation in Test cricket gives him considerably more opportunities to accumulate runs than Kohli has in the international game.
The England batter is also only 35, meaning there could still be several productive years ahead of him if he maintains his current fitness and form.
The Numbers Behind the Two Records
The two statistical pursuits can be compared as follows:
| Record | Sachin Tendulkar | Current Chaser | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| International centuries | 100 | Virat Kohli | 86 |
| Test runs | 15,921 | Joe Root | 14,278 |
Kohli therefore needs 14 more international centuries, while Root requires 1,643 additional Test runs to move beyond Tendulkar’s mark.
The difference highlights why Karthik considers Root’s challenge more achievable at this stage of their respective careers.
Kohli Has One More ODI World Cup Target
Kohli’s immediate priority is not solely individual records.
The veteran batter has said that the upcoming ODI World Cup will be his final World Cup for India, giving him another major team goal before the end of his international career.
Kohli has already been part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning campaign and was also a key performer during the 2023 tournament, when India reached the final before losing to Australia.
He has made it clear that winning another World Cup is a major motivation as he enters the final phase of his ODI career.
Root’s Test Career Could Decide the Record
For Root, the equation is comparatively straightforward: continue playing Test cricket and keep scoring.
England’s regular Test schedule provides Root with numerous opportunities to close the gap. If his current form continues, he could potentially challenge Tendulkar’s record within the next few years.
The fact that Root has already surpassed several other legendary batters on the all-time Test run charts has strengthened the belief that Tendulkar’s record may eventually fall.
Two Different Paths to Cricket History
Kohli and Root are chasing different pieces of Tendulkar’s enormous statistical legacy.
Kohli’s challenge is about reaching an extraordinary number of international centuries despite now having only one international format available to him.
Root’s challenge is based on longevity, consistency and continued participation in Test cricket.
Karthik’s assessment therefore reflects the circumstances surrounding both players rather than simply their current batting ability.
What Happens Next?
Kohli’s next major assignment will be India’s ODI series against New Zealand, while Root will continue his Test career with England.
For cricket fans, both pursuits will be worth following closely.
If Root maintains his current level, Tendulkar’s Test-run record could eventually be broken. Kohli, meanwhile, will need an exceptional run of ODI centuries if he is to become only the second batter in history to reach 100 international hundreds.
Dinesh Karthik’s verdict is clear: Joe Root has a realistic chance of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s Test-run record, while Virat Kohli’s pursuit of 100 international centuries remains a much tougher challenge.