3 areas in ODI cricket where Virat Kohli has already surpassed Sachin Tendulkar

If there is one comparison in the world of cricket that has been made a lot of times in recent years, it is the one between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar had a stellar career that lasted almost a quarter of a century, and in the process the master batsman captured the imagination of the cricketing world. He took ODI cricket to new statistical stratospheres; the Master Blaster owns almost every major big ticket ODI batting record, including that for the most runs (18,426), most hundreds (49), most fifties (96) and most man-of-the-match awards (62).

When Tendulkar retired from ODI cricket in 2012, we thought his records would never be broken.

But sport has its own way of surprising us, and it throws up champions in every era. Kohli has now emerged as the next batting superstar of ODI cricket; he has plundered attacks all across the world, and is touted as the man who has a chance of going past Tendulkar’s records.

In this article, we shall look at three areas where Kohli has already surpassed Tendulkar in ODI cricket:

Note: This article purely analyses the two batsmen purely on the numbers that they generated.

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#3 Away record

Virat Kohli

Playing away from home is always a challenging task for any batsman. He has to adjust to different playing conditions, and a variety of bowling attacks.

In Australia, a batsman has to adjust to the extra pace and bounce. In England, he has to adjust to the swinging and seaming conditions. And in the West Indies, he has to adjust to the slow and low pitches on offer.

Tendulkar played a colossal 292 innings away from home and scored 11450 runs at an average of 43.05, including 29 hundreds and 58 fifties. While his average in ODIs played in India is 48.11, it dips by more than 5 points away from home.

On the other hand, Kohli has played only 144 innings away from home, but has already scored 6927 runs, including 24 hundreds and 34 fifties. In fact, Kohli’s away average of 59.21 is more than 15 points higher than Tendulkar's.

Kohli has played 148 innings fewer than Tendulkar away from home, but is still just five centuries short of Tendulkar.

Record away from home

Tendulkar: Innings - 292; Runs - 11450; Average - 43.05; 100’s - 29; 50’s - 58

Kohli: Innings - 144; Runs - 6927; Average - 59.21; 100’s - 24; 50’s - 34

#2 Record in chases

Virat Kohli

Batting in a chase is a big test for a batsman, especially in ODI cricket. There is the pressure of the asking rate, and you have to combine caution with aggression to get the side over the line.

As far as chasing is concerned, Virat Kohli is way ahead of Sachin Tendulkar. The pressure of a target gets Kohli’s competitive juices flowing, and he just pulverizes the opposition with the disdain of a monarch.

Tendulkar played 232 innings in chases, and scored 8720 runs at an average of 42.33, including 17 hundreds and 52 fifties. Out of the 20 ducks that Tendulkar scored in ODIs, 15 came in a chase.

On the other hand, Kohli’s numbers border on the verge of absurdity. The Delhi dynamo has played 131 innings in a chase, and has already scored 6850 runs at a gargantuan average of 68.50.

Kohli’s average in ODI chases is more than 26 points higher than Tendulkar's (42.33). The current skipper has already scored eight more hundreds than Tendulkar in run chases despite playing 101 innings fewer than the ‘Master Blaster.’

Record in chases

Tendulkar: Innings - 232; Runs - 8720; Average - 42.33; 100’s - 17; 50’s - 52

Kohli: Innings - 131; Runs - 6850; Average - 68.50; 100’s - 26; 50’s - 30

#1 Centuries in a winning cause

Sachin Tendulkar

Scoring a century in a winning cause underlines the ability of a batsman to absorb pressure and provide answers to whatever the opposition hurls at him.

Out of the 49 hundreds that Tendulkar scored in ODI cricket, only 33 resulted in a win, which translates to a percentage of 67.34. Many of Tendulkar's famous three-figure knocks could not help his side win.

He scored a magnificent 175 against Australia in 2009 but fell in the 48th over, and India lost the match by 3 runs. He scored a magical 141 against Pakistan in 2004, but Pakistan went on to win the match by 12 runs.

There were many occasions through his career where Tendulkar could not see India through to the finish line.

On the other hand, Kohli has scored 43 hundreds in ODIs, and 35 of those have resulted in a victory - which translates to a percentage of 81.39. Kohli has more often than not been around till the very end and seen India through, unlike Tendulkar.

Kohli 133* against Sri Lanka at Hobart is considered one of the greatest innings ever played in a run chase. He stayed till the end, and that enabled India to chase down a target of 321 runs in just 36.2 overs.

Kohli's splendid 183* against Pakistan in the Asia Cup allowed India to chase down a daunting target of 330 runs.

Kohli had the final 'killer punch' that Tendulkar lacked, and therein lies the main difference between the two.

Centuries in a winning cause

Tendulkar: Innings - 452; Runs - 18426; Average - 44.83; 100s - 49; 100s in a win - 33

Kohli: Innings - 230; Runs - 11520; Average - 60.31; 100s - 43; 100s in a win - 35

Note: All statistics are updated as on 22 October 2019.