Joe Root once again proved why he is England’s modern batting titan with a calm, unbeaten knock that sealed a historic chase for the hosts in the Headingley Test. While Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley laid a rock-solid foundation with their 188-run opening stand, it was Root who ensured India never got a sniff once the game got tense post-tea. Walking in during a tricky phase, Root’s fluent 53 not out steered England home and also brought him tantalisingly close to a milestone that only a handful in cricket history have managed — and one that has Sachin Tendulkar’s name etched at the very top. Root now stands just a couple of fifties away from equalling Tendulkar’s iconic Test record, underlining his unreal consistency in the longest format.
Most 50s in Test 68 – Sachin Tendulkar 66 – Joe Root* 66 – S Chanderpaul 63 – Rahul Dravid 63 – Allan Border 62 – Ricky Ponting 58 – Jacques Kallis 57 – Alastair Cook This Headingley win, England’s second-highest successful chase, was a testament to the maturity of the ‘Bazball’ era: bold but measured when needed. Root’s knock was the glue amid all the fireworks — showcasing poise and precision against India’s best, including a fiery Jasprit Bumrah who toiled all day without reward.Quiz: Who’s that IPL player? For Indian fans, it was heartbreak as the visitors squandered a commanding position. Shubman Gill’s first Test as captain ended in a tough lesson about closing out games overseas, despite heroic centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Root, meanwhile, continues to rewrite records with every game. With four more home Tests against India this summer and the Ashes ahead, fans and pundits are watching with bated breath: will the Yorkshireman topple the Master Blaster’s mark this year?