The Greatest Test: Comparing Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in International Cricket

Comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar is a challenge that continues to divide cricket fans. Both are exceptional cricketers with remarkable achievements, making it difficult to determine who holds the ultimate title. However, based on their statistics and impact, we can draw some conclusions.

Overall Career Statistics

Overall international cricket statistics show that Sachin Tendulkar has an edge:

Sachin Tendulkar: 34,357 runs, 100 centuries, 164 half-centuries in 664 matches Virat Kohli: 27,230 runs, 81 centuries, 141 half-centuries in 538 matches

Format-wise Comparison

Test Cricket

In Test cricket, Tendulkar leads significantly:

Sachin Tendulkar: 15,921 runs, 51 centuries, 68 half-centuries in 200 matches Virat Kohli: 9,140 runs, 30 centuries, 31 half-centuries in 118 matches

By contrast, the situation is different in One Day International (ODI) cricket.

ODI Cricket

Kohli is catching up rapidly:

Sachin Tendulkar: 18,426 runs, 49 centuries, 96 half-centuries in 463 matches Virat Kohli: 13,906 runs, 50 centuries, 72 half-centuries in 295 matches

Virat Kohli dominates this format:

Virat Kohli: 4,188 runs, 1 century, 38 half-centuries in 125 matches Sachin Tendulkar: 10 runs in 1 match

Key Differences

Consistency

Kohli has a higher overall average (52.55) compared to Tendulkar (48.52).

Era

Tendulkar played in a different era. He faced challenging bowling conditions and legendary bowlers such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Wasim Akram.

Longevity

Winger Tendulkar had a career spanning 24 years (1989-2013) while Kohli is still active.

While Tendulkar holds an edge in overall numbers and Test cricket, Kohli's consistency and dominance in limited-overs formats are noteworthy. The debate of who is greater may ultimately come down to personal preference and the weight given to different aspects of their careers.

Legacy and Achievements

Sachin Tendulkar: Played international cricket for over 24 years (1989-2013) Widely regarded as the greatest batsman in cricket Player to score 100 international centuries and 200 runs in an ODI Carried the hopes of over a billion Indians Excelling against legendary bowlers like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, and Wasim Akram Holds numerous records in Tests and ODIs that still stand Known for his humility and ability to inspire generations of cricketers

Virat Kohli: Revolutionized fitness standards in cricket Chasing specialist with unmatched performances in pressure situations Has 78 centuries in international cricket as of 2024 India to several Test series wins Held the No. 1 ICC Test ranking for India for several years Global icon with unparalleled popularity on social media and endorsements

The legacy of both players is immense. Sachin Tendulkar is considered the greatest for his unmatched records and influence on cricket, while Virat Kohli is seen as the greatest of the current era with the potential to surpass many milestones.