Joe Root Becomes Second-Fastest Batter to Reach 23,000 International Runs Behind Virat Kohli
England batting star Joe Root added another remarkable milestone to his international career after becoming the second-fastest batter in cricket history to reach 23,000 international runs. Root achieved the landmark during England’s first ODI against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street on September 22, 2026.
The milestone further strengthens Root’s place among the most prolific run-scorers in international cricket and puts him alongside some of the biggest names in the history of the game.
Joe Root Reaches 23,000 International Runs
Root needed only three runs at the start of his innings to reach 23,000 international runs. He completed the landmark in his 521st international innings, moving past Sachin Tendulkar, who required 522 innings to reach the same figure.
Root eventually scored 44 runs from 52 deliveries, including five boundaries, before being dismissed by Sri Lanka debutant Sachindu Colombage.
With this achievement, Root became only the eighth batter in men's international cricket to cross the 23,000-run mark. More significantly for England, he became the first English batter to achieve the feat.
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Virat Kohli Remains Ahead of Joe Root
While Root moved ahead of Tendulkar in terms of the number of innings required to reach 23,000 international runs, Virat Kohli remains at the top of the list.
Kohli reached the milestone in just 490 innings, meaning Root required 31 more innings to reach the same figure. Tendulkar follows Root with 522 innings, while Australia's Ricky Ponting reached the landmark in 544 innings.
Fastest to 23,000 International Runs
Virat Kohli – 490 innings
Joe Root – 521 innings
Sachin Tendulkar – 522 innings
Ricky Ponting – 544 innings
The numbers highlight the remarkable consistency of Root and Kohli across international cricket.
Root Joins Elite 23,000-Run Club
Joe Root's achievement places him alongside an exclusive group of international batting legends. The 23,000-run club includes Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis.
Following his milestone, Root had 23,041 international runs and occupied eighth position on the all-time international run-scoring chart. Rahul Dravid was seventh with 24,208 runs, leaving Root 1,167 runs behind the former India batter.
Another Major Milestone in Root's Career
The 23,000-run achievement is the latest addition to an already impressive list of records held by Joe Root. The England batter has established himself as his country's leading run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket.
Root has also continued to challenge several long-standing records associated with Sachin Tendulkar. Earlier in September 2026, he moved past Tendulkar's record for Test half-centuries, reaching 69 compared with the former India batter's previous mark of 68.
His latest achievement therefore adds another notable chapter to the statistical comparison between two of cricket's greatest run-scorers.
Joe Root's International Cricket Legacy
At 35, Root continues to produce important numbers across formats. His ability to score consistently over a long international career has allowed him to move into one of the most exclusive groups in cricket.
Reaching 23,000 international runs is not only a reflection of his batting ability but also of his longevity, consistency and contribution to England cricket. With further ODI matches ahead, Root will have opportunities to add to his tally and close the gap to the players above him on the all-time list.
For now, his latest milestone confirms Joe Root as the second-fastest batter to reach 23,000 international runs, with only Virat Kohli having reached the landmark in fewer innings.
Read More: Joe Root reach 23,000 international runs
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