Joe Root equalled the world record of Rahul Dravid for most catches in Test cricket after he completed Shardul Thakur's catch off Josh Tongue's bowling on Day 4 of the first Test between England and India at Headingley, Leeds on Monday.

Both Root and Dravid have taken 210 catches in Test cricket. While Root achieved this feat in 154 Tests, Dravid reached the milestone in more than 160 Tests, with the Indian legend's feat coming in October 2012.

Closely following them is Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene with 205 catches, while Steve Smith of Australia has taken 200 catches, the same as South Africa legend Jacques Kallis.

Shardul's catch was Root's second in the match after he completed the dismissal of KL Rahul in the first innings by taking a catch at slip.

At a time when Indian fielders have dropped several catches in the gully region in the ongoing Leeds Test, which included a miss by Yashasvi Jaiswal of Harry Brook in England's first innings, this list demonstrated how skillful these players were while maintaining vigilance at the slip corridor.

Root took the catch of Shardul in the third session of the fourth day's play. It also helped Root equal Alastair Cook's record of taking the most catches in Test matches played between India and England. During his 12-year-long Test career, Cook played 30 Tests for England against India and took 38 catches, whereas Root has 38 catches to his name in 31 matches. Legendary Sunil Gavaskar is third on the list with 35 catches, while Dravid comes next with 30 and Virat Kohli is fifth in the list with 25 catches.

In the World Test Championship, whose 2025-26 cycle has already begun, Root has taken 102 catches in 65 Tests. Only Australia's Smith, with 104 catches in 102 innings, has taken more catches than him in the WTC.