By: Youth Ki Awaaz
Sachin Tendulkar has an ODI average of 44.83 with a strike rate of 86.23, and a Test average of 53.78. On the other hand, Virat Kohli has an ODI average of 58.07 with a strike rate of 92.92, and a Test average of 49.53.
On paper, Virat Kohli is a much better ODI batsman and slightly better in Test cricket. However, statistics do not tell the entire story.
Sachin Tendulkar had to face legendary bowlers like Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Allan Donald, Muttiah Muralitharan, etc. Virat Kohli has not faced bowlers of such quality.
Sachin Tendulkar did not have the luxury of DRS at his time and was a victim of many poor decisions, especially LBWs, which he could not review. He was wrongly given out on over two dozen occasions.
Sachin Tendulkar had to carry the burden of his entire team on his shoulders because no one around him used to score runs. However, Virat Kohli does not have to bat under such pressure as he gets team support.
Today boundaries are very short, some as short as 60 metres. A ball timed well races to the boundary and a lofted shot is likely to end up as a six. Sachin Tendulkar batted when boundaries used to be as long as 90 metres. A well timed shot was not guaranteed a four, and lofting the ball often meant getting caught at the boundary.
Today with the free-hit rule, batsman friendly pitches, powerplay rule, shorter boundaries, DRS, and bats made of very fine material, everything aids a batsman. A four or six does not have the same value as before, and perhaps that is why countless people have lost interest in cricket.
If Sachin Tendulkar batted today, and Virat Kohli back then, their averages and strike rates would be very different.
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