Sachin Tendulkar better than Virat Kohli in ODIs: Gautam Gambhir

Kohli or Tendulkar- Who is the best batsman India has ever produced? This is probably one of the most asked question in India ever since the rise of Virat Kohli. Kohli’s unmatchable white ball record in this short span of time have resulted in some legends referring to him as the greatest white ball player to have ever played the game. But former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Sachin Tendulkar is better than Virat Kohli in ODIs. 

Little master over Chase master

When questioned between the two cricketing greats on Star Sports show Cricket Connected he picked the master blaster in ODIs. Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket in 2013, with numerous records etched to his name. He remains the only cricketer to register 100 international hundreds. Kohli, so far, has registered 27 Test tons and 43 ODI hundreds. Kohli has taken less innings compared to Tendulkar to reach these many hundreds in ODI’s and hence many believe he could go on to match Tendulkar’s massive feat.

Contrary to the popular opinion Gambhir picked Sachin over Virat in ODI’s citing that the change in rules in the modern day cricket have helped batsman a lot.

Change in rules helps modern day batsman

“Sachin Tendulkar, because probably with one white ball and four fielders inside the circle, not five fielders outside, it will be Sachin Tendulkar for me. It’s difficult because Virat Kohli has done phenomenally well but I think the rules have changed as well, which has helped a lot of new batters,” he explains.

Rules of cricket have changed considerably over the years. A current ODI innings is played with two new balls and has three Power Plays. In the first Power Play (Overs 1 to 10) only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. In the second Power Play (overs 11 to 40), four fielders are allowed while in the remaining overs, five are allowed outside the inner circle.

“The new generation, with two new balls, no reverse swing, nothing for the finger spin, five fielders inside for the 50 overs, probably that makes batting much easier.

“Look at how Sachin Tendulkar has played, different rules, that time 230 to 240, was a winning total. Probably I’ll go with Sachin Tendulkar if we see the longevity and flow of the one-day cricket format,” he said.

Kohli chasing Tendulkar

Tendulkar has played 463 ODIs scoring 18426 runs at 44.83, including 49 centuries. Kohli has 11867 runs from 239 ODI innings at an average of 59.33 with 43 tons already. With new rules telling the modern day batsman and considering Kohli’s red hot form, he looks well set to break Tendulkar’s numbers in white ball cricket.

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