Archive · 20 Aug 2026
De Villiers Says Kohli Outperformed Tendulkar in Overseas Tests
AB de Villiers compared Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as Indian Test batters.
He said Tendulkar was the first Indian batter to show that players from the subcontinent could succeed overseas.
De Villiers believes Kohli continued that progress and raised the standard even higher.
Tendulkar scored more total Test runs and centuries than Kohli.
The statistics in the articles also show Tendulkar with a higher overseas batting average.
Kohli still received praise for influencing India’s performances away from home.
Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025 with 9,230 runs.
The articles differ slightly on the number of away Tests used for Kohli’s statistics.
AB de Villiers said Virat Kohli was better than Sachin Tendulkar in overseas Test conditions.
De Villiers credited Tendulkar with first proving that a subcontinent batter could succeed in seaming and bouncy conditions.
Tendulkar scored 15,921 Test runs and 51 centuries, compared with Kohli’s 9,230 runs in 123 Tests.
The articles report Tendulkar’s overseas average at roughly 51 to 55, while Kohli’s was about 41.
Reports differ on the exact away-match figures, listing Kohli with 4,774 runs in either 66 or 68 Tests.
- Who
- Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers compared Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
- What
- De Villiers said Kohli was stronger than Tendulkar in overseas Test conditions.
- When
- The comments followed India’s 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test; Kohli retired from Tests in 2025.
- Where
- The discussion concerned overseas Tests, including seaming and bouncy conditions; the referenced match was played in Galle.
- Why
- De Villiers said Tendulkar established the overseas benchmark for Indian batters, while Kohli took that achievement forward and raised the bar.
Kohli’s Overseas Impact
Tendulkar’s Statistical Record
Performance in overseas conditions
Kohli’s Overseas Impact
AB de Villiers said Kohli was better than Tendulkar overseas and raised the standard for Indian batting away from home.
Tendulkar’s Statistical Record
Tendulkar was the first Indian batter credited by de Villiers with showing that a subcontinent player could succeed in seaming and bouncy conditions.
Career achievements
Kohli’s Overseas Impact
Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests and was praised for taking India’s overseas batting forward.
Tendulkar’s Statistical Record
Tendulkar remains the higher Test run-scorer, with 15,921 runs and 51 centuries.
Overseas statistics
Kohli’s Overseas Impact
Kohli’s overseas influence is favored in de Villiers’s assessment, despite reported away figures of about a 41 average and 4,774 runs.
Tendulkar’s Statistical Record
The reported figures give Tendulkar the statistical advantage, with about 8,705 overseas runs and an average between roughly 51 and 55.
- Speaker
- AB de Villiers, former South Africa captain and batter
- Referenced match
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle and took a 1-0 series lead.
- Tendulkar’s Test record
- 15,921 runs in 200 matches and 51 centuries
- Kohli’s Test record
- 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, with a reported career average of 46.85
- Tendulkar overseas record
- Reports cite about 8,705 runs and an overseas average ranging from roughly 51 to 54.74 or 55.
- Kohli overseas record
- 4,774 runs and an overseas average ranging from 41 to 41.51; reports cite either 66 or 68 away Tests.
- SENA record
- Tendulkar scored 5,387 runs at 51.30 in 63 Tests in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia; Kohli scored 3,781 at 41.54 in 48 Tests.
