Joe Root has once again equalled Australian batter Steve Smith to hold the record of smashing the most centuries against India in Test cricket. He accomplished this feat by smashing a superb century in the third Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Day 2. En route to his innings, Root also completed 3,000 Test runs against India, becoming first batter to do so.
Back in 2024, Root also became the first batter to hit 10 centuries against India, as no other batter was able to achieve his feat before. Steve Smith became second when he smashed two centuries at the BGT 2024/25. Now with the Lord’s Test ton, Root has 11 Test centuries against India, the joint-most.
Batters with most centuries vs India in Tests
| Player | Inns | Runs | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith (AUS) | 46 | 2356 | 58.90 | 11 | 5 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 60 | 3058* | 58.73 | 11 | 13 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 51 | 2555 | 54.36 | 8 | 12 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 41 | 1927 | 50.71 | 8 | 7 |
| Gary Sobers (WI) | 30 | 1920 | 83.47 | 8 | 7 |
Joe Root, who made his Test debut against India, loves batting against the Men in Blue. Whether it’s in England or in the subcontinent, the Yorkshireman dominates against the Indian bowling. He’s the leading run-getter against India, being only the second player after Steve Smith (vs ENG) to score 3000+ Test runs against a country.
In India, Root has three Test centuries, including a double hundred in Chennai. In England, Root just sends India on the leather hunt as he averages close to 80 at home in Tests. On Thursday, Root was at his fluent best on one of his favourite grounds. The 34-year-old averages 55.75at Lord’s, with more then 2000 runs at the venue. With Ben Stokes opting to bat, the England star made full use of the batting conditions on a flat wicket. England lost two wickets in an over to Nitish Kumar Reddy, but Root ensured that they did not collapse in a consolidating partnership with Ollie Pope.
Batters with most International centuries vs India
| Player | Inns | Runs | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith (AUS) | 83 | 3968 | 52.21 | 16 | 13 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 111 | 4795 | 47.00 | 14 | 22 |
| Joe Root (ENG) | 89 | 4069 | 52.80 | 14 | 17 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 67 | 2924 | 49.55 | 11 | 9 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 103 | 4287 | 44.19 | 11 | 23 |
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