Islamabad, June 25, 2025: Joe Root has matched Rahul Dravid’s long-standing record for the most catches by a fielder in Test cricket, after grabbing a sharp chance to dismiss Shardul Thakur during the fourth day of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, Leeds.
With that catch off Josh Tongue’s bowling, Root took his tally to 210 Test catches — the same number as Dravid, who set the mark back in October 2012. Root reached the milestone in 154 matches, while Dravid needed over 160.
Joe Root now shares the top spot with Dravid, ahead of Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, who sits third with 205. Australia’s Steve Smith and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis are just behind, both with 200 catches to their name.
Earlier in the match, Root had dismissed KL Rahul in India’s first innings, completing a catch in the slip cordon. The contrast has been noticeable, as several Indian fielders have dropped crucial chances in the gully — most notably Yashasvi Jaiswal’s miss of Harry Brook — underlining the value of consistency and awareness at slip.
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Root’s dismissal of Thakur also allowed him to equal another record — the most catches in Tests between India and England. He now has 38, the same number as former England skipper Alastair Cook. Sunil Gavaskar follows with 35, Dravid with 30, and Virat Kohli with 25.
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In the ongoing 2025–26 ICC World Test Championship cycle, Joe Root has already taken 102 catches in 65 Tests. Only Steve Smith has more in the WTC, with 104 catches in 102 innings.
