The debate about who is greater, Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli, has been ongoing for a considerable period with varied viewpoints. Sachin Tendulkar dominates in almost every run-scoring statistic, but Virat Kohli has carved out his own exceptional path over the last decade. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, considered a predecessor to both Kohli and Tendulkar as India’s premier batter, has shared his thoughts on this discussion.
When questioned about his preference between Tendulkar and Kohli, Gavaskar offered a direct answer.
‘I prefer not to compare different eras. Playing conditions vary, pitches differ, and opponents are not the same. Consequently, comparing players is challenging,’ Gavaskar stated on Sports Central channel.
Gavaskar described comparisons among great players as a ‘weakness’ prevalent in the subcontinent.
‘It’s merely a tendency, perhaps a weakness, in the subcontinent to constantly draw comparisons. We are always comparing players,’ Gavaskar commented.
‘Have you ever heard anyone question if Ricky Ponting is superior to Greg Chappell? Or whether Greg Chappell was better than Don Bradman? It’s uncommon. People generally accept current players for who they are,’ Gavaskar added.
‘This constant comparison is unique to the subcontinent. It happens all the time,’ Gavaskar noted.
The Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli debate has spanned generations. Tendulkar retired as the highest-scoring batter in cricket history, holding the record for most runs in both Test and ODI formats to this day.
In limited-overs cricket, Kohli’s statistics, particularly his average, surpass Tendulkar’s. However, in Test cricket, Tendulkar holds the advantage.
Regarding total runs, Kohli trails Tendulkar by just over 4,000 runs in ODIs, while the gap in Test cricket is substantial, nearly 7,000 runs.
Gavaskar himself has an impressive record of over 10,000 Test runs, slightly more than Kohli currently.
Kohli has the opportunity to further enhance his record, participating in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. The 36-year-old recently scored a brilliant century against Pakistan on February 23, surpassing 14,000 ODI runs in the process and becoming the fastest to reach this milestone.
Kohli has already overtaken Tendulkar in ODI centuries, with 51 compared to Tendulkar’s 49. In Test centuries, however, Kohli has 30, while Tendulkar has 51.
