Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar heaped massive praise on Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, but he kept the latter ahead of the retired cricketer on the list of greatest ODI batters. Manjrekar pointed out that Kohli has won more high-pressure games for India while chasing than Tendulkar.
Manjrekar mentioned that Sachin had several advantages during his time. Kohli has scored 5,913 runs in 105 matches at an average of 89.59, with a strike rate of 96.74 in second innings. In comparison, Tendulkar accumulated 5,490 runs in 127 ODIs at an average of 55.45 and a strike rate of 90.08.
“Virat Kohli is a better chaser than Sachin. Tendulkar wanted to bat first and didn’t lose his wicket against the new ball. But winning matches is more important,” Manjrekar said.
“Virat remained unbeaten in several matches during the second innings in the fifty-over format. Sachin has a few games but not the numbers of Virat. This is one area where Kohli is better than Tendulkar,” he added.
Kohli is ahead of Tendulkar in ODI centuries, taking his tally to 51 with a three-digit mark against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. Sachin recorded 49 hundred in his one-day international career. Kohli has managed 24 tons in successful run chases, while Tendulkar scripted 14.
Virat was under the scanner ahead of the Champions Trophy due to his poor international cricket form, but he silenced his critics with a match-winning knock against the Men in Green.