The Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli is an endless debate that has been raging on for the past many years.
It seemed to have died down during the slump of Kohli between 2020 and 2022, but over the past few months, as Virat Kohli has regained his best form, with the iconic knock against Pakistan in the T20 WC at the MCG, followed by his centuries in ODIs and T20I.
Kohli has smashed 74 international centuries in total, still a long way behind Tendulkar’s record of 100 centuries. In ODIs, however, it seems that Kohli will catch up with Tendulkar much sooner- he’s raised 46 ODI tons, only 3 behind Tendulkar’s tally of 49. In terms of runs, though, Kohli is about 6000 ODI runs behind Tendulkar, who had played about 90 more ODI innings than Kohli.
I will say Virat over Tendulkar: Pat Cummins
Australia Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins was recently asked about who he’d choose in a light conversation with teammate Usman Khawaja.
During a teaser for Prime Video’s upcoming documentary ‘The Test’ on Australian cricket, Usman Khawaja asked Cummins to pick a better batsman between Tendulkar and Kohli. Cummins was quick enough to pick Kohli and he also had a valid reason for his selection.
“Sachin or Virat?” Khawaja asked at his Test skipper.
“Of what? Cooking?” quipped Cummins smilingly before going on to add, “I think I have played Sachin only once in a T20 years ago. So I will say, Virat.”
When Usman Khawaja was asked to pick his order in between India’s 4 legendary batters in Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman, the left-handed opener said: “I would go, Tendulkar, one. Dravid, the wall, two. Three, Dada. Ganguly, unfortunately, this hurts for me to say for Laxman too, I love watching Laxman bat, but lefties first,” he responded.
Speaking of Cummins, the fast bowler will be leading Australia on the tour of India for 4 Tests, starting February 6 in Nagpur. Australia have lost the last three Border-Gavaskar series between the two countries, the last two at home. Australia haven’t beaten India in India in a Test series since 2005.
