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The debate over who is the greatest ODI batter—Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli—continues to captivate cricket fans and experts alike. With both players leaving an indelible mark on the sport, comparisons between them are inevitable. Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has now weighed in on the discussion, highlighting a key factor that, in his opinion, giv🌃es Kohli an edge o♌ver Tendulkar in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Comparison between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar: Who holds the edge?
Tendulkar, often referred to as the “God of Cricket,” set an unmatched benchmark in ODI cricket. With over 18,000 runs, 49 centuries, and numerous records to his name, Tendulkar redefined batting in the 50-over format. His ability to dominate bowling attacks across generations, adapt to different conditions, and play long innings made him an undisputed legend of the game.
On the other hand, Kohli, regarded as one of the best modern-day cricketers, has built his reputation as a master chaser. He has consistently delivered under pressure, playing crucial match-winning knocks, particularly in run-chases. Kohli’s aggressive yet controlled approach, combined with his remarkable consistency, has drawn comparisons with Tendulkar throughout his career.
Sanjay Manjrekar on who is the best ODI batter
Manjrekar, a former Indian batter turned commentator, recently shared his opinion on the ongoing debate. While he acknowledged Tendulkar’s greatness, he pointed out an area where Kohli surpasses him. According to Manjrekar, Tendulk🐎ar was a more assured batter against the new ball, pr▨eferring to set up games by batting first. Kohli, however, has excelled in chasing down targets, making him a more effective match-winner in ODIs.
“One major difference between the two is that I think Virat Kohli is a better chaser than Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar liked batting first and was perhaps certain that he was not going to get out against the new ball. But it’s about winning matches,” Manjrekar said.
Also READ: Aussie legend Ricky Pontin🧸g names the greatest batter in ODI criꦗcket
Manjrekar explains the reason behind his pick
Elaborating on his reasoning, Manjrekar emphasized Kohli’s remarkable ability to stay till the end in successful run-chases. He noted that while Tendulkar had played some memorable chases, Kohli has done it more frequently and with greater efficiency.
“Virat will have a number of matches where he has chased down the target and has stayed on till the end. Tendulkar has a few matches but not the numbers that Virat Kohli has. But apart from that, Tendulkar had everything. One area where Virat Kohli is better than the God of Cricket is chasing runs,” he added.
