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Over 24 extraordinary years, Sachin Tendulkar amassed international runs beyond anyone’s expectations, or imagination.
The ‘Little Master’ has set so many records it would take an entire column just to mention them in short detail.
But for this exercise, let’s stick to just Tests and ODIs, as Tendulkar only played one T20 international, scoring ten.
Test runs – 15921 at 53.78 with 51 centuries, and 68 half-centuries, with a top score of 248*.
ODI runs – 18426 at 53.78 with 49 centuries, and 96 half-centuries, with a top score of 200*.
That’s more than 34,000 runs that included exactly 100 international centuries. Mind-blowing figures.
Like Tendulkar, all of his closest pursuers have retired:
Tests
Ricky Ponting – 13,378
Jacques Kallis – 13,289
Rahul Dravid – 13,288
Kumar Sangakkara – 12,400
Brian Lara – 11,953
Shivnarine Chanderpaul – 11,807
Mahela Jayawardene – 11,814
Allan Border – 11,174
Steve Waugh 10,927
Sunil Gavaskar – 10,122
The closest current batsman is England’s skipper Alastair Cook, who is 31 and has 9964 Test runs to his name. But he won’t have enough time to score another 6000 runs, so count him out as a possibility.
ODIs
Sangakkara – 14,234
Ponting – 13,704
Sanath Jayasuriya – 13,430
Jayawardene – 12,650
Inzamam-ul-Haq – 11,737
Kallis – 11,579
Sourav Ganguly – 11,363
Lara – 10,405
The closest current ODI batsman is Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan with 10,216, but he’s 39 and no chance of scoring another 8000 runs.
So is there anyone who has a chance of matching The Little Master?
Virat Kohli.
Before Roarers jump up and say comparing eras is like apples and oranges, it’s an interesting exercise comparing where Kohli stands compared to Tendulkar at the same stage of their careers.
Kohli’s career Test stats – 72 digs, four not outs, 2994 runs at 44.02 with 11 centuries and 12 half-centuries, and a top score of 169. He scored his first Test ton in his 14th dig.
Tendulkar’s relative Test stats – 72 digs, eight not outs, 3355 runs at 52.42 with ten centuries and 13 half-centuries, and a top score of 179. He also chalked up his first Test ton in his 14th dig.
Kohli’s career ODI stats – 163 digs, 23 not outs, 7212 runs at 51.51 with 25 centuries and 36 half-centuries, and a top score of 183. He scored his first ODI ton in his 13th dig.
Tendulkar’s relative ODI stats – 163 digs, 15 not outs, 5759 runs at 38.91 with 11 centuries and 34 half-centuries, with a top score of 137. He scored his first ODI ton in his 73rd dig.
We all know whom Kohli has faced, but here’s a reminder of the players Tendulkar had to deal with – Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Allan Donald, just to name a few. Some of the best in the business.
So comparing Tendulkar and Kohli at the same stage of their respective careers is a clear indication that barring injury or illness, Kohli is well on track. He has become a genuine master batsman in his own right, with the figures to justify that claim.
So that Roarers don’t have to dig into the record books, these are the career figures of both.
Tendulkar’s Tests – 329 digs, 33 not outs, 15,921 runs at 53.78, with 51 centuries, 68 half-centuries, with a top score of 248*.
Kohli’s Tests – 72 digs, four not outs, 2994 runs at 44.02, with 11 tons, 12 half-centuries, and a top score of 169.
Tendulkar’s ODIS – 452 digs, 41 not outs, 18,426 runs at 53.78 with 49 tons, 96 half-centuries, and a top score of 200*.
Kohli’s ODIs – 163 digs, 23 not outs, 7212 runs at 51.51 with 25 tons, 36 half-centuries, and a top score of 183.