The debate over Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar has taken another turn after former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh reacted to comments made by South African great AB de Villiers.
De Villiers recently placed Kohli ahead of Tendulkar when comparing the two Indian batting legends in overseas Test cricket. His comments have sparked plenty of discussion among cricket fans, especially because Tendulkar built a remarkable record during his long career and often performed against some of the best bowling attacks in the world.
Kohli also created his own legacy in Test cricket and enjoyed several outstanding performances outside India. He also played a major role in India’s rise as a strong Test team during his captaincy.
De Villiers acknowledged Tendulkar’s influence but argued that Kohli eventually took things to another level.
Dodda Ganesh responds to AB de Villiers Over Virat Kohli-Sachin Tendulkar Debate
Dodda Ganesh did not agree with AB de Villiers’ assessment.
The former India pacer took to X after seeing the comments and responded with a short but cheeky message.
“Pass on the weed, brother.”
The former South Africa batter gave Tendulkar credit for showing that players from the subcontinent could succeed on pitches with pace, bounce and movement.
However, he believes Kohli pushed that standard even further.
De Villiers explained that Tendulkar started the trend, while Kohli continued it and raised the benchmark for Indian batters playing outside Asia.
His argument does not dismiss Tendulkar’s achievements. Instead, De Villiers believes Kohli’s overall influence on Indian Test cricket and his performances in challenging conditions give him the edge.
That view has naturally divided cricket supporters.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Overseas Record Makes the Debate Interesting
Tendulkar spent more than two decades playing Test cricket and regularly faced strong bowling attacks in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
He produced some of the most memorable overseas innings of his career in those countries.
READ MORE: Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli: Who Has the Better Overseas Test Record?
Australia became one of the biggest stages of Tendulkar’s career. He scored heavily against Australia’s great bowling attacks and produced several innings that remain part of Test cricket folklore.
His performances in England also showed his ability to handle movement and different conditions.
Kohli later created his own overseas highlights. His performances in Australia, South Africa and England helped him develop a reputation as one of India’s best modern Test batters.
That is why the comparison remains difficult.
Virat Kohli enjoyed his best period in the format between 2014 and 2019, when he regularly scored hundreds and double centuries. His performances helped India compete more strongly outside home conditions.
His role as captain also made the comparison more interesting.
Kohli placed a major focus on fitness and fast bowling during his leadership. India developed a strong pace attack and started winning Test matches regularly in overseas conditions.
India also recorded their first Test series victory in Australia under Kohli’s leadership. That achievement remains one of the biggest moments of his captaincy.
His batting and leadership therefore both contribute to his standing among India’s greatest Test cricketers.
AB de Villiers and Kohli Share a Close Bond
There is also some context behind De Villiers’ strong praise for Kohli.
The two players shared several seasons at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. They developed a close friendship and have regularly spoken highly of each other.
De Villiers therefore knows Kohli both as a player and as a teammate.
His opinion also comes from his own experience of facing Indian batters and playing international cricket in different conditions.
Still, his comments have opened the door for another round of the Tendulkar-Kohli debate.
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Who Was Better in Overseas Tests?
The answer depends heavily on what criteria someone uses.
Kohli has several outstanding overseas achievements. His performances in Australia and South Africa stand out, while his leadership helped India become more competitive away from home.
Tendulkar, meanwhile, produced an extraordinary body of work across a much longer Test career. He succeeded against several generations of fast bowlers and consistently scored runs in different parts of the world.
