Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar: Comparing the stats of the two legends after 123 Tests

Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are widely regarded as two of India's biggest batting superstars. It is not surprising considering the fact that they are India's top two leading run-getters in international cricket. While Tendulkar amassed 34,357 runs from 664 matches, Kohli has 27,324 runs to his name from 543 matches.

Tendulkar and Kohli also top the list of batters with most international hundreds for India. The former ended his career with exactly 100 tons, while the latter has 81 to his name at present. The batting stalwarts also hold a number of other individual records in international cricket.

Both Tendulkar and Kohli have achieved incredible feats in red-ball as well as white-ball cricket. Having said that, Test cricket is still the pinnacle when it comes to judging the greatness of a player. While Tendulkar ended his Test career with exactly 200 matches, Kohli has so far featured in 123. On that note, here's a comparison of the batting stats of the two star cricketers after 123 Tests.

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Tendulkar vs Kohli: Who has more runs and centuries after 123 Test matches?

Tendulkar made his Test debut as a 16-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989. He soon went on to establish himself as the pivotal member of the team. After 123 Tests, Tendulkar had amassed 10,134 runs at an average of 57.25, with the aid of 34 hundreds and 41 fifties. He was dismissed for a duck on 12 occasions.

Looking at Kohli's stats, he has scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, with 30 tons and 31 fifties to his name. The 36-year-old has been dismissed without scoring in Test cricket on 15 occasions. The Delhi cricketer made his debut against West Indies in Kingston in June 2011.

While he enjoyed a terrific run for a number of years, the last few seasons have been rather underwhelming for Kohli. As a result, Tendulkar is ahead in terms of both runs and hundreds. He also has a significantly better average than Kohli.

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Tendulkar vs Kohli: Comparing their home and away record in Test cricket

Of his 123 Tests, Tendulkar had played 54 at home in which he scored 4,645 runs at an average of 58.06, with the aid of 15 hundreds and 19 half-centuries. He was dismissed for a duck on three occasions.

Away from home, the Master Blaster played 69 Tests in which he scored 5,489 runs at an average of 56.58, with 19 hundreds and 22 half-centuries. He registered nine ducks in away Tests.

As for Kohli, of his 123 Tests, the right-handed batter has played 55 at home, scoring 4,336 runs at an average of 55.58, with 14 tons and 13 fifties to his credit. He has been out without scoring on seven occasions.

Away from home, the 36-year-old has featured in 66 Tests, scoring 4,774 runs at an average of 41.51, with 16 tons and 18 fifties. He has been out for a duck eight times.

Kohli also featured in two neutral Tests - the two World Test Championship (WTC) finals in 2021 and 2023, respectively. In four innings, he scored 120 runs at an average of 30, with a best of 49.

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Tendulkar vs Kohli: Performance in winning causes

After 123 Tests, Tendulkar had featured in 38 matches that India won. He scored 3,293 runs at an average of 67.20, with the aid of 11 tons and 12 fifties. He was dismissed for a duck twice. Tendulkar's best of 248* came against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December 2004. He also scored 194* against Pakistan in Multan in March 2004 and 193 against England in Leeds in August 2022.

Kohli has so far been part of 62 Tests that India have won and has scored 4,746 runs at an average of 51.58, with 14 hundreds and 16 fifties. He has been dismissed for a duck on seven occasions.

Not surprisingly, both Kohli (32.60) and Tendulkar (36.54) average in the 30s in matches that India have lost, a clear indication of their importance to the team.

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Tendulkar vs Kohli: Performance in SENA nations

Test performance in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries is often seen as a key factor to judge the caliber of a cricketer from the sub-continent. On that note, here's a look at how Tendulkar and Kohli fared in Tests in SENA nations.

Tendulkar played 12 Tests in Australia, scoring 1,029 runs at an average of 54.15, with four tons to his name. He also scored four hundreds in England, scoring 1,074 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 71.60. The Indian legend played eight Tests in New Zealand and scored 498 runs, averaging 41.50, with one ton. In South Africa, he scored 636 runs in nine Tests at an average of 42.40, with three hundreds.

Kohli has played 18 Tests in Australia and has scored 1,542 runs at an average of 46.72, with seven tons. In England, he has 1,096 runs from 17 Tests at an underwhelming average of 33.21, with the aid of two hundreds. He has scored 252 runs in four Tests in New Zealand, averaging 36, with one century. In South Africa, Kohli has 891 runs from nine Tests, averaging 49.50, with two tons.