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HomeCricket DialecticsTwin Pillars of Indian cricket: Comparing the styles and stat sheets of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli 

Twin Pillars of Indian cricket: Comparing the styles and stat sheets of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli 

Player Comparison: Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli  

The two cricketing greats, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, represent two different eras of greatness: one characterized by traditional skill and unshakable consistency, and the other by contemporary intensity and unrelenting hunger. So Let’s take a look at Player Comparison Between Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli.

Tendulkar, who burst onto the international stage at age 16 in 1989, was more than a prodigy; he became the heartbeat of Indian cricket for over two decades. Kohli arrived in 2008 as a flame-throwing chase artist, and grew into the fiercest embodiment of fitness, aggression, and leadership. 

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Career Overview  

Sachin Tendulkar played 664 internationals across formats, amassing 34,357 runs at a 48.52 average, with a record 100 centuries and 164 fifties. His longevity and adaptability made him the gold standard of quantity and endurance. 

Virat Kohli, in 550 matches, has compiled 27,599 runs at a superior 52.27 average, including 82 centuries and 143 fifties. His consistency, especially in limited-overs, reflects the demands and nuances of the modern game. 

Together, they symbolize an evolution, from Tendulkar’s foundational artistry to Kohli’s chase-centric mastery. 

FormatMatches (S/V)RunsAvg100s50s
Tests200 / 12315,921 / 9,23053.78 / 46.8551 / 3068 / 31
ODIs463 / 30218,426 / 14,18144.83 / 57.8849 / 5196 / 74
T20Is1 / 12510 / 4,18810.00 / 48.690 / 10 / 38
 

ICC Glory  

World Cups: Tendulkar was India’s top scorer (482 runs) in the 2011 triumph. Kohli set the record for most runs (765) in the 2023 edition. 

Champions Trophy: Tendulkar was pivotal in India’s 2002 joint win; Kohli starred in the 2013 and 2025 titles, averaging over 80.  

PlayerWorld CupsChampions TrophiesMajor ICC Honours
Tendulkar1 (2011)1 win (2002 joint)ICC Cricketer of Year, Hall of Fame
Kohli02 (2013, 2025)10 ICC awards, Cricketer of Decade
 

Records & Milestones 

Tendulkar: First to 100 international centuries and first ODI double-century; famed for endurance and technique reddit.com. 

Kohli: Fastest to 14,000 ODI runs (in 287 innings) and 27,000 international runs; currently holds the most ODI centuries (51). 

Tendulkar’s captaincy (25 Tests, 73 ODIs) yielded moderate success. Kohli, however, transformed India’s winning culture, particularly with 40 Test victories—India’s most by any captain. 

Style & Persona 

Tendulkar’s batting was poetry in motion, calm, refined, and technically immaculate, earning him global reverence. Kohli’s approach is story art: bold, expressive, fiercely competitive, and always ready to overcome any challenge on the field. Tendulkar himself discouraged comparisons, and he “never believed” in comparing different generations of players or any kind of comparison.  

The Final Word 

These two titans represent chapters in Indian cricket’s ascent. Tendulkar laid the foundation, volume, technique, and records that inspired a generation. Kohli built upon that legacy with unmatched consistency, modern fitness regimes, and leadership that reshaped India’s approach in modern-day international cricket.  

Together, they form a continuum, Tendulkar’s grace, Kohli’s grit, linking past to present, myth to momentum. They are not just the backbone of the Indian cricket team over the years; they’re complements, defining greatness in all its evolving forms. 

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Vineet Vashisht
Vineet Vashisht
Experienced News-writer and presenter with a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry.

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