Joe Root might be only 2,378 runs away from breaking the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record but according to the cricketer, he wouldn’t be half as good as he is now if it wasn’t for his grandfather’s inputs. Taking part in a show where he scrolls through his phone and stops at a specific photo, Root had a warm smile on his face. As the anchor asked about it, Root held up the phone to reveal a photo where the player stood with the 2019 ODI World Cup with his grandfather.
“This is a long way back. This is when we won the World Cup in 2019, with my grand dad actually. It’s a lovely photo. He took me to everything as a kid, growing up. Mum and Dad would be working so all my junior matches, he would be the one that ferried me here, there and everywhere. He loves his cricket. He’s a lifelong cricket fan. He went and watch Don Bradman play cricket way back in the day. So to be able to experience a moment like that with him at the home of cricket was very special. Just brings back all those childhood memories, all those journeys up and down the country. So I am very grateful for everything that he did for my game. I wouldn’t be here without his input,” Root said.
In the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar series, Root closed the gap between him and the legendary Tendulkar on the Test batting charts as he finished the series with 534 runs in five Tests.
From taking a young Joe Root to all his junior games, to standing on the outfield at Lord’s with him after winning the World Cup.
Joe Root has a special relationship with his cricket-loving grandad. 💛 pic.twitter.com/dq5E2LMK8s
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 8, 2025
Root surpassed the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting in terms of Test runs across the last two Tests while his 39th century propelled him to the fourth spot.
The series ultimately ended 2-2 with England winning the 1st and 3rd Test at Leeds and Lord’s while India drew level with the 2nd and 5th Tests at Edgbaston and the Oval respectively. The 4th Test at Manchester was a draw.
