Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar: Sanjay Manjrekar names best ever ODI batter

Sanjay Manjrekar praised Virat Kohli's dominance in run chases, highlighting his superior numbers over Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli's Champions Trophy century against Pakistan has reignited hopes for India's ODI success, further cementing his legacy as the ultimate chase master.

In Short

• Manjrekar hailed Kohli’s superior chasing ability over Tendulkar
• Kohli’s 24 centuries in run chases surpass Tendulkar’s 14
• Kohli’s ton against Pakistan sparked hopes for India’s ODI success

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, while praising both Virat Kohli and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, explained why he believes Kohli has an edge over the Master Blaster in run chases. While acknowledging both as two of the greatest ODI batters of all time, Manjrekar pointed out that Kohli has successfully seen out more high-pressure chases for India compared to Tendulkar.

Speaking to Star Sports, Manjrekar highlighted that while Tendulkar had several advantages in his era, Kohli’s ability to chase down targets is unparalleled. Kohli’s remarkable consistency while batting second is reflected in his staggering numbers—5,913 runs in 105 matches at an astonishing average of 89.59, with a strike rate of 96.74. In comparison, Tendulkar amassed 5,490 runs in 127 matches at an average of 55.45 and a strike rate of 90.08.

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"One major difference between the two is that I think Virat Kohli is a better chaser than Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar liked batting first and Tendulkar perhaps was a certainty that he was not going to get out against the new ball. But, its about winning matches," Manjrekar said.

"Virat will have a number of matches where he has chased down the target and has stayed on till the end. Tendulkar has a few matches but not the numbers that Virat Kohli has. But apart from that Tendulkar had everything. But one area where Virat Kohli is better than the God of Cricket is chasing runs," he added.

Kohli has also surpassed Tendulkar in terms of centuries, registering 51 ODI tons, with his most recent coming against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy. Tendulkar, who long held the record for most ODI centuries, retired with 49. Additionally, Kohli has 24 centuries in successful run chases for India, compared to Tendulkar’s 14, reinforcing his reputation as the ultimate chase master.

Despite entering the Champions Trophy amid scrutiny over his Test form, Kohli silenced critics with a match-winning century against Pakistan. His composed knock not only revived his ODI form but also reaffirmed his ability to guide India in high-pressure games. Fans now hope that his resurgence will propel India towards clinching the ICC ODI trophy.

With Kohli continuing to dominate in run chases, the debate comparing him and Tendulkar will persist. However, as Manjrekar pointed out, when it comes to guiding India home in pressure situations, Kohli holds the upper hand.