Archive · 21 Aug 2026
AB de Villiers Mocked After Ranking Kohli Above Tendulkar
AB de Villiers said Virat Kohli should be ranked ahead of Sachin Tendulkar.
Some people mocked him and told him to “pass on the weed.”
They said the numbers did not support his opinion.
Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs in Test cricket.
Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests.
Tendulkar also scored more runs outside his home country.
In SENA countries, Tendulkar had a better batting average and more centuries.
The debate is about whether personal opinions or career statistics should matter more when comparing the two players.
AB de Villiers was mocked for placing Virat Kohli ahead of Sachin Tendulkar.
The criticism focused on whether de Villiers’ claim was supported by statistics.
Tendulkar scored 15,921 Test runs, including 8,705 away from home.
Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, with 4,774 in overseas Tests.
In SENA countries, Tendulkar had more runs, a higher average, and more centuries than Kohli.
- Who
- AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, and Sachin Tendulkar.
- What
- De Villiers was mocked after putting Kohli ahead of Tendulkar, despite statistics cited in the criticism favoring Tendulkar.
- Where
- The comparison includes overseas Tests and matches in SENA countries.
- Why
- Critics argued that Tendulkar’s Test and SENA-country statistics were stronger than Kohli’s.
De Villiers’ Ranking
Statistical Criticism
Who ranks higher
De Villiers’ Ranking
AB de Villiers put Virat Kohli ahead of Sachin Tendulkar.
Statistical Criticism
Critics argued that the available Test statistics favored Tendulkar over Kohli.
Overseas performance
De Villiers’ Ranking
The ranking gave Kohli the higher overall standing despite the comparison involving overseas cricket.
Statistical Criticism
Tendulkar scored 8,705 away-from-home Test runs, compared with Kohli’s 4,774 overseas Test runs.
SENA-country record
De Villiers’ Ranking
De Villiers’ view placed Kohli ahead overall.
Statistical Criticism
Tendulkar had more SENA-country runs, a higher average, and more centuries than Kohli.
- Tendulkar’s Test runs
- 15,921
- Tendulkar’s away Test runs
- 8,705
- Kohli’s Test runs
- 9,230 in 123 Tests
- Kohli’s overseas Test runs
- 4,774
- Tendulkar in SENA countries
- 5,387 runs in 63 Tests at an average of 51.30, with 17 centuries and 23 fifties
- Kohli in SENA countries
- 3,661 runs in 46 Tests at an average of 42.08, with 12 centuries and 14 fifties