Skill wise where would Virat Kohli rank above Tendulkar?

[MechEng]

It's evident that Kohli never had Tendulkar's backfoot game and let's say he still lags behind in most traditional batting skills.

 

However, looking at the way the game had evolved, there must be certain skillsets that have evolved too in batting that the previous generation batters never had. I'm sure that there are new approaches implemented by Root, Kohli and Smith which have made them run machines and adapt to the modern game which were probably not followed by Fab 5 in the past!

 

Fitness is something we are all aware of. However, there must be certain batting skills too that have evolved with the game.

[Stan AF]

NO

[Gollum]

Tendulkar is the most skilled batsman in the history of the game. Period. Most complete game I have ever seen, technically the finest and came up with innovative shots in his mid 30s, while Kohli didn't change his style despite long decline. Kohli had his strengths, same with all great players, but skillwise no one comes close to SRT. 

[MechEng]

7 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Tendulkar is the most skilled batsman in the history of the game. Period. Most complete game I have ever seen, technically the finest and came up with innovative shots in his mid 30s, while Kohli didn't change his style despite long decline. Kohli had his strengths, same with all great players, but skillwise no one comes close to SRT. 

 

Kohli must have certain skill which Tendulkar never mastered. Probably that wristy flick over mid wicket.

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, MechEng said:

 

Kohli must have certain skill which Tendulkar never mastered. Probably that wristy flick over mid wicket.

Tendulkar had that too. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2025 by rkt.india

[VT87]

6 hours ago, Gollum said:

Tendulkar is the most skilled batsman in the history of the game. Period. Most complete game I have ever seen, technically the finest and came up with innovative shots in his mid 30s, while Kohli didn't change his style despite long decline. Kohli had his strengths, same with all great players, but skillwise no one comes close to SRT. 

Bhai SRT is complete batsman never doubt about it but the amount of skill ABD possessed was incredible never seen any batsman has this type of talent 

[Gollum]

6 hours ago, MechEng said:

 

Kohli must have certain skill which Tendulkar never mastered. Probably that wristy flick over mid wicket.

Kohli had immense mental grit, hunger, drive to become the best version possible. Very few people in cricket history had the mindset he had before pandemic. Hence from a chubby kid to a role model fitnesswise. All his strengths come from sheer willpower, that's why despite lacking ATG level talent, he has achieved so much. 

 

Lost that drive in last few years, maybe captaincy took a toll. If you look at Indian cricket history, burden of captaincy becomes too much and even for the best, drains them out completely in 4-5 years time. Sachin was sensible in that way, he was happy to play as a player when captaincy stints didn't turn out the way he expected. 

[Gollum]

13 minutes ago, VT87 said:

Bhai SRT is complete batsman never doubt about it but the amount of skill ABD possessed was incredible never seen any batsman has this type of talent 

Yeah, I think ABD comes closest to Sachin among the batsmen I have seen, talentwise. 

 

What amazes me most about Sachin is that he was a complete test batsman by the age of 18 and already scored multiple 100s in Aus, Eng, RSA, including in '91 WACA when it was at its paciest/bounciest. His technique was watertight, no weakness, so adaptable, and even in ODIs became MOTM against Imran's Pak as an 18 year old, by the age of 22 top scored and dominated a WC. By the age of 25-26 he was seen as a GOAT contender drawing comparison with Bradman. And he repeated such amazing feats even as a 37-38 year old, became #1 test batsman in 2010, that legendary standoff against #1 RSA (peak Steyn), 2011 WC etc. 

 

ABD retired too early, would have been interesting to see how he would have done in his late 30s, overcome deteriorating reflexes, hand-eye. 

Edited June 7, 2025 by Gollum

[Gollum]

6 hours ago, MechEng said:

 

Kohli must have certain skill which Tendulkar never mastered. Probably that wristy flick over mid wicket.

Sachin also had that, he had 4-5 shots for every ball according to Laxman, sometimes that was also the reason behind his downfall...like Federer's (Alcaraz is similar among active players) case vis-a-vis Nadal/Djokovic who had lesser shots but always full conviction behind all their plays, no confusion or two minds . Heck, Sachin used to play 3-4 different types of sweep shot even in 90s (against Warne, Murali calibre spinners), targeting area from midwicket to behind the keeper, in 2001 series he was sweeping Warne in such a way that it would spin behind the keeper and go to boundary in fine third man position, I am sure many ICFers will remember that. Perfected the ramp shot in his 30s, added reverse sweep, upper cut. He had every shot in the book, check his masterclass 160 odd in NZ in an ODI in 2009, how many modern day players do you see having such a diverse range?

Edited June 7, 2025 by Gollum

[jusarrived]

if Tendulakar was a 10, Virat is a 6-7.only AB came close to him purely on skills..and I would pick a dozen other bats between Tendu and Virat, but skills was not what made Virat a great 

Edited June 10, 2025 by jusarrived

[jusarrived]

9 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Yeah, I think ABD comes closest to Sachin among the batsmen I have seen, talentwise. 

 

What amazes me most about Sachin is that he was a complete test batsman by the age of 18 and already scored multiple 100s in Aus, Eng, RSA, including in '91 WACA when it was at its paciest/bounciest. His technique was watertight, no weakness, so adaptable, and even in ODIs became MOTM against Imran's Pak as an 18 year old, by the age of 22 top scored and dominated a WC. By the age of 25-26 he was seen as a GOAT contender drawing comparison with Bradman. And he repeated such amazing feats even as a 37-38 year old, became #1 test batsman in 2010, that legendary standoff against #1 RSA (peak Steyn), 2011 WC etc. 

 

ABD retired too early, would have been interesting to see how he would have done in his late 30s, overcome deteriorating reflexes, hand-eye. 

 

Tendulkar was a massive underachiver with that kind of talent, I know am going to hurt few here but his lack of Killer instinct was difference between India still being medicore till he retired.

[jusarrived]

25 minutes ago, VT87 said:

Bhai SRT is complete batsman never doubt about it but the amount of skill ABD possessed was incredible never seen any batsman has this type of talent 

 

Tendulkar could do everything ABD did and more, he was just a little less adventerous manily cos he played in a ear a reverse sweep was frowned upon

[Gollum]

1 minute ago, jusarrived said:

 

Tendulkar was a massive underachiver with that kind of talent, I know am going to hurt few here but his lack of Killer instinct was difference between India still being medicore till he retired.

I always felt that Sachin, Federer, even Anand to some extent were underachievers. Unpopular opinion I know, but still. Maybe too much talent also isn't good, doesn't develop the psychological side so well because they find the game too easy. 

[Gollum]

Just now, jusarrived said:

 

Tendulkar could do everything ABD did and more, he was just a little less adventerous manily cos he played in a ear a reverse sweep was frowned upon

Sachin also became more cautious post his back problems, tennis elbow etc, reduced his strokeplay and flamboyance. Those who saw him bat post 2004-05 may not appreciate the genius he was, 90s Sachin was a different vibe man. 

[Lone Wolf]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Sachin also became more cautious post his back problems, tennis elbow etc, reduced his strokeplay and flamboyance. Those who saw him bat post 2004-05 may not appreciate the genius he was, 90s Sachin was a different vibe man. 

If not for Tennis elbow SRT would have achieved one of the longest far stretched Peak cricket has ever seen.

His strokeplay would have gone next level.

His reflexes and hand eye coordination surprisingly didn't slow down much with age.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2025 by Lone Wolf

[MechEng]

@Gollum @rkt.india this is the flick shot I was talking about.

 

 

Also that tennis racket shot off Harris Rauf at MCG, never seen Tendulka play that.

[Adamant]

Probably the skill of mentally sketching the whole chase and then following it precisely.

 

Prime Virat was also amazing at placement, his shots used to bisect the fielders, something which every commentator praised. Sachin was good too but definitely not prime Virat level. That innings against Aus in 2016 t20 wc was god level.
 

At his prime he could score 70-80 with negligible dot balls count, something which I never saw in Tendulkar.

[singhvivek141]

Kohli was better in chase, no doubt about it.
Yeah, he was helped with flatter decks, better bats, balanced ball which don't swing for long and DRS. But despite all this Kohli's ability to chase targets is insane (in ODI's). Mentally he was stronger than Sachin while chasing.

Kohli was also better in the flick shot to leg. He had that power which Sachin didn't had...Sachin has artistry and finesse, Kohli had power.

Edited June 8, 2025 by singhvivek141

[Gollum]

Kohli better in finding gaps, like Lara. Sachin had the ability to pick length early but not as good as Lara in bisecting fielders, that was Warne's reading.

[raki05]

Chokli is ratta maar ke top karney wala student ……. Tendulkar is like skilled students who study less and still scores more.