During the 2024 Ranchi Test, English cricketer and former Test captain Joe Root surpassed Australian cricketer Steven Smith’s record and set up a new record for most Test centuries by any player against India.
England are currently busy on the India tour for the five-match Test series. While the English right-handed batter Joe Root set up the new record for the most Test runs by any batter against India during the Test series opener at Hyderabad, he ends his struggling period in the ongoing India tour in the fourth Test of the series at Ranchi.
During the first innings of the 2024 Ranchi Test, Root not only managed his first 50+ score on the 2023/24 India tour, but the right-handed batter also stretched his innings to a memorable century that helped the visiting side to fight back in the Test series.
As England are trailing this five-match away Test series by 2-1 before the beginning of the fourth Test, the Ranchi Test is very crucial for them, as the visitors can’t afford another defeat this series.
Although England were once struggling at 112/5 at lunch on day one of the 2024 Ranchi Test, Joe Root’s 31st Test hundred guided the English team to a good first-innings total. While England ended the opening day of the Test match on 302/7, Root remained not out on 106 runs in 229 balls with the help of nine fours.
Most Test 100s vs India: Joe Root surpassed Steven Smith
With that great first innings hundred in the 2024 Ranchi Test, Root became the first batter to record ten Test centuries against India. Previously, he and Australian cricketer Steven Smith jointly held the record for most Test hundreds against India with nine centuries each.
Most Test centuries against India
Player (Team) | Number of Test 100s vs India |
Joe Root (England) | 10 |
Steven Smith (Australia) | 9 |
Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 8 |
Sir Viv Richards (West Indies) | 8 |
Sir Garry Sobers (West Indies) | 8 |
(Updated as of 23 February 2024)
Most Test 50+ scores vs India: Joe Root equalled Ricky Ponting’s record
Meanwhile, during the first innings of the Ranchi Test, Joe Root also equalled the record for most Test 50+ scores against India. With his 20th Test 50+ scores against India, Root equalled the legendary Australian batter Ricky Ponting’s record in this list.
Most Test 50+ scores against India
Player (Team) | Number of Test 50+ scores vs India |
Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 20 |
Joe Root (England) | 20 |
Javed Miandad (Pakistan) | 19 |
Clive Lloyd (West Indies) | 19 |
Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies) | 17 |
(Updated as of 23 February 2024)
