Former England cricketer David Lloyd has shared his two cents on the Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar debate as both Indian greats are widely considered two of the greatest batters of all time.
Tendulkar, to date, is the only batter to score 100 centuries during his time as the Indian great called time on his career one year after winning the 2011 World Cup, which marked the fitting end to his astonishing career.
However, Kohli is just 20 tons shy as he now has 80 centuries to his name despite many playing for seven to eight fewer years than the Master Blasters. During the 2023 World Cup, he also broke Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in ODIs.
Reaching Tendulkar’s 100 centuries record is difficult but with Kohli’s fitness at the age of 35, he could still play at the top level for the next three to four years and could equal the Little Masters’ milestone.
However, Lloyd labelled Kohli as a “personable chap” when asked to pick between Sachin and him for the ultimate Test-playing XI.
"I did a bit of research, got on social media, and I threw it out there. You can only have one. 95 percent said Sachin. Some are telling me, criticising me, some even asking the question. It's ridiculous. There is only one answer. The one thing that kept coming up was that Sachin would leave his ego at home. I think the other guy is quite a personable chap, Virat Kohli," Lloyd said as quoted by TOI.
"In Test cricket, Sachin. The other guy is incredible, Virat Kohli. Dangerous. Would take the game away. Exciting player. If I had a choice in a Test match between Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, I would have Lara. He could hit the ball in places that weren't even invented, and could do it all very naturally.
“A different animal, Lara. He could get a bit touchy but I never saw that with Sachin Tendulkar. He was on an even keel all the time, Tendulkar. Didn't really take chances. So in Test match, between him and Kohli, two fabulous players. It's not really an argument, Sachin," Lloyd concluded.
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virat Kohli