AB de Villiers Praises Virat Kohli's Overseas Test Dominance

AB de Villiers Praises Virat Kohli's Overseas Test Dominance

Cricket legend AB de Villiers has made a striking comparison between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, two of India's greatest Test batsmen. De Villiers assessed their respective contributions to Indian cricket and their ability to perform in challenging overseas conditions.

What happened?

De Villiers highlighted the significance of both players in establishing a template for success in bouncy and seaming conditions away from home. He noted that Tendulkar started the trend for India, but Kohli took it forward and raised the bar. "I think of someone like Sachin Tendulkar way back, who started that trend for India. Yet, he wasn’t as strong as someone like Virat Kohli, who was even better. But Sachin was the first guy to show that as a subcontinent batter, you can do well in bouncy and seaming conditions. Virat took that forward and raised the bar," Villiers said on his YouTube channel.

Why it matters for AB de Villiers

The contrast in their overseas Test records becomes sharper when examining their performance in SENA countries, which comprise South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia. Tendulkar accumulated 5,387 runs in 63 Tests in SENA conditions with an average of 51.30, including 17 centuries and 23 fifties. Kohli scored 3,661 runs in 46 Tests in SENA conditions with an average of 42.08, including 12 centuries and 14 fifties.

What comes next?

De Villiers noted that the influence of Tendulkar and Kohli extends to the current generation of Indian batsmen. He observed that players such as KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal are following the path established by the two greats in overseas Test cricket. However, de Villiers highlighted that Rahul has not yet matched the standards set by his predecessors in away conditions.

Key Takeaways:

• Virat Kohli has scored 4,774 runs in 66 Tests outside India.
• Kohli's average in SENA conditions is 42.08, including 12 centuries and 14 fifties.
• KL Rahul averages only 34 away from home and needs to work on making bigger scores.

Overseas Test Records of Kohli and Tendulkar

AB de Villiers emphasized that Kohli's ability to dominate in challenging conditions is a testament to his exceptional skill and dedication. The cricket legend concluded that Kohli's influence on the next generation of Indian batsmen will be a lasting legacy in the sport.