Joe Root achieves major feat in Tests versus India

ACE England batter and former captain Joe Root on Saturday (27) scripted history despite getting dismissed for only two runs in the second innings of the first Test against India at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

The 33-year-old middle-order batter, with the help of the first of his two runs, eclipsed former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to become the highest run-aggregator against India in the long format. Root now has 2,557 runs against the Asian side, as against Ponting's 2,555. Former England captain and opener Alastair Cook is at three with 2,431 runs.

For India, former batter and captain Sachin Tendulkar has 2,535 runs in Tests against England.

Read: India extend lead over England to 175 runs, look solid in 1st Test

Root has played 26 Tests against India since 2012 and his runs have come at an average of 60 plus with nine hundreds and 10 fifties. On Indian soil, he has an average of 49.05 in 21 innings, which shows how good he has been in spin-friendly conditions. His tally of 2,557 runs against India is also the most against any opponent, with 2,428 against Australia coming second.

Read: England bowled out for 246 in 1st innings as India spinners rule

In the current match, however, Root has been more successful as a bowler, as he picked four wickets in India's first innings to end up as his side's top bowler.

He is also on the cusp of another milestone; becoming only the fifth visiting Test batter in India to score more than 1,000 runs. His sweep-hitting skills have been particularly special as he scored more than 31 per cent of his runs against spin on Indian pitches through various sweeps.

Meanwhile, England were trying hard to save the first match as they reached 188 for 5 in the second innings, reducing the deficit against the opponents to two at the time of writing this report. Ollie Pope was unbeaten on 76, leading the fightback on the third day after India were bowled out for 436 in their first innings.