Former Indian opening batter and commentator Aakash Chopra has responded to the former South African dashing batter AB de Villiers’ comments comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar in overseas Test conditions.
AB had asserted that Sachin wasn’t stronger than Kohli in dealing with bouncy and seaming overseas conditions in Tests. Reacting to that comment, Chopra stated that Kohli has a better average than Sachin only in South Africa in SENA countries.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra has opined that Sachin has much better overall Test numbers than Kohli in SENA countries, barring South Africa. During his explanation, Chopra delved into their career numbers in SENA countries.
“SENA countries will tell you your true capability. Overall, in SENA countries, 63 matches for Sachin paaji, his average is 51.30, he has 17 centuries and 23 half-centuries, and he has 5,387 runs. Virat Kohli – 48 matches, 3,781 runs at an average of 41.54. We shouldn’t look at the centuries because Paaji has 63 matches, and Virat has also scored 12 in 48 matches, but there is a significant difference in the average,” Chopra said.
“South Africa – difficult conditions to bat. Everyone’s average falls there. Paaji’s has also fallen. He has an average of only 46.44 there. He has five centuries to his name in 15 matches and 1,161 runs. Virat Kohli steals the march in South Africa. He has an average of 49.50 – the only place where he is averaging more than Sachin paaji. He has played nine matches and has two centuries and four half-centuries,” he added.
Furthermore, Chopra observed that Kohli’s numbers in England are far inferior to Sachin’s. Moreover, he noted that Sachin averages more than Kohli even in Australian and New Zealand conditions.
“Sachin paaji has played 17 matches in England, 30 innings, and scored 1,575 runs at an average of 54.31, which includes four centuries. Virat Kohli has also played 17 matches, 33 innings, and has scored 1,096 runs. His average is only 33.21. 54 to 33 – there is a difference of more than 20. The one bad tour has probably brought the numbers way down. So Virat Kohli’s England numbers are not stacking up. If we compare to Paaji, they are nowhere close,” he said.
“Sachin paaji played only 11 matches in New Zealand, and there too he has an average of 49.52. An average of nearly 50 in New Zealand – difficult conditions. He has two centuries and five half-centuries. Virat Kohli has played only four matches. He has an average of 36.00 there. Virat has scored one hundred,” Chopra noted.
“Sachin paaji has played 20 matches in Australia, 38 innings, and has scored 1,809 runs at an average of 53.20. He has six centuries. Virat Kohli has played 18 matches, 34 innings, and has scored 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72. He has seven centuries. So he has struck one extra century for sure, but he has an average of 46, and Sachin paaji had an average of 53. There is still a difference of seven runs,” he concluded.
