Is Virat Kohli Better than Sachin Tendulkar?

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A couple of years’ after Tendulkar’s retirement, Virat Kohli has evolved out as the most consistent batsman across all formats for team India. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has also complimented Virat Kohli’s eye-bat coordination saying that the stylish batsman can even score immense runs at midnight without lights, and still ends up playing a fine knock.

Thanks to Virat Kohli’s amazing performance at overseas series and against tough opponents that India have successfully won many series in their overseas series in both tests and ODIs. A couple of months back, Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s prolific former captains, has stated that Kohli is the best batsman against the Aussies in Australia putting him ahead of Tendulkar and Laxman.

The dashing batsman scored 381 runs in 5 ODIs and 199 runs in 3 T20Is down under at an excellent average of 76 and 199 respectively. No other Indian batsman did manage as much runs before him in a single series in Australia.

Virat Kohli Vs Sachin Tendulkar: Who Holds Edge?

Until now, Virat Kohli has hit 11 tons in 41 tests managing 2994 at an average of 44 with 12 fifties and 11 tons. He is sublime in 50-over formats too scoring 7212 runs in 171 ODIs with 25 centuries and 36 fifties at a spectacular average of 51. Kohli holds the world record of fastest 7000-runs in ODI cricket. He achieved this feat in 162 innings while Sachin Tendulkar scored as many runs in 189 innings.

Comparing these two cricketers’ statistics, Virat Kohli has scored 2994-run in 41 tests at an average of around 44 while Sachin Tendulkar has scored 3111 test runs with 10 tons and 14 half centuries at an average of around 56 in equal number of matches.

But statistics only tells the half story! Virat Kohli’s run-riot in Australia last year has been the blinder. He amassed whopping 692 runs in 2014-15 test series down under with 4 tons and 1 fifty at an impressive average of 86.5 in 4 tests while the master blaster couldn’t score more than 500-run in a series ever in his entire test career.

In ODI also the records are in favor of Virat Kohli. Master Blaster scored around 6100 runs in his first 171 ODIs with 13 tons and 36 half centuries. Contrarily, Kohli’s tally stands taller with 7212 ODI runs with 25 hundreds and 36 fifties at an impressive average of 51. Interestingly, Virat got 15 out of his 25 hundreds batting second while Tendulkar got 16 out of his 49 century in the second innings in ODIs. So there is no doubt that Virat Kohli is equally talented like Tendulkar to play match winning knocks under pressure. As far as statistics goes, Virat Kohli is clearly the winner!

Career Statistics

Sachin Tendulkar 

Formats	Matches (Innings)	Runs	Average	100s	50s
Tests	200 (329)	15921	54	51	68
ODIs	463 (452)	18426	45	49	96
T20Is	1	10	10	0	0

Virat Kohli 

Formats	Matches/ Innings	Runs	Average	100s	50s
Tests	41 (72)	2994	44	11	12
ODIs	171 (163)	7212	51	25	36
T20Is	36 (34)	1327	51	0	13

Don’t Jump Into any Conclusion as Yet

Cricket is a game of comparison per se. Records are made and broken, comparisons are done and undone. The only thing that keeps a cricketer upbeat and motivated is his personal stamina to withstand the immense pressure to perform best at international level. The time has ripened for Virat Kohli; he is being closely followed by the media, fans and analysts worldwide. Without losing his cool, Virat needs to ensure that he stays focused to the game while keeping useless hullaballoo at bay – something at which Tendulkar mastered at.

Although, Virat Kohli is representing India for around one decade across formats, yet it would be unfair to compare him to Sachin Tendulkar as yet. The classy batsman still has several years of cricket left in him. Unless, Kohli keeps up his good performance constantly for India in the next one decade more while ensuring his dignity and temperament intact on and off the field, his comparison with the god of cricket is completely unfair and uncalled for.