- July 27, 2025
There are memories in cricket, then there are cricket moments – the ones that stick in your memory like a new paint job. Joe Root sent fans down memory lane during the 4th Test of the England series in Manchester against India, and it is a moment you would pause for and smile. As well as Root’s magnificent 150 that day, he was able to recall this phenomenal, surreal moment from his debut series in India in 2012 when the crowd loved seeing a dismissal (yes, you read that right) because it meant Sachin Tendulkar was coming in to bat.
The Tendulkar Effect: Cheering a Dismissal?
The 2012 explantary story from Root was not just funny, it was also weird, touching, and an incredibly telling story. He remarked on how he remembered Cheteshwar Pujara getting out in the second Test of this series, after scoring a double hundred in the first Test. And the Indian crowd? They went nuts. Not because they disliked Pujara — he was good — but because that meant their great Sachin Tendulkar was next to bat!
Consider this. In a jam-packed stadium, fans were standing and cheering a friend’s dismissal to get a quick look at the “Little Master.” That’s not stardom. That’s worship.
It perfectly illustrated what Tendulkar was. Unlike cricketers, being a sporting icon meant he was a national idol. The moment he walked out to bat, the energy in the stadium would shift. For someone such as Root, who grew up watching him on TV in England, to see that type of frenzy in India, albeit in the flesh, was slightly disorienting. “It was just weird to see,” he said, and you could still hear the childlike amazement in his voice all these years later.
Root’s Rise: From Rookie to Record-Chaser
Fast forward to 2025, and Root is no longer the fresh-faced debutant trying to find his place in Test cricket. He’s now a modern-day giant, chasing records most thought untouchable. In Manchester, his majestic 150 didn’t just put England in a strong position—it also catapulted him past Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Ricky Ponting in the all-time Test runs tally.
Joe Root has accumulated 13,409 Test runs in his orbit, which means he is tracking just one shadow at the apex of the Test run tree – the great Sachin Tendulkar. The chase is for 2,512 runs. Can he do it? Yes. Root is 34, fit, hungry, and has a technique that will last. If he plays for the next three or four years (very likely), Things could get very enticing!
Legends Across Generations
The most emotional moment of Root’s reflection was seeing the sincere, unquenchable admiration he maintained for Tendulkar, a boyhood hero and measure of cricketing excellence. He noted that Sachin first played Test cricket in 1989, a year before Root was even born! Root was born in 1990, grew up watching the legend, and then stood on the same pitch as him, which is a dream!
The magic here is the connection between generations. We’re watching an era where yesterday’s fans are today’s stars. There’s no ego—just pure respect and awe. It reminds us that cricket isn’t just about numbers. It’s about legacy, stories, and the silent passing of torches. Joe might be doing the same ‘bizarre to witness’ moment for the next generation.
What’s your favorite cricket memory that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand? Let’s talk legends in the comments.
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