De Villiers clarifies Kohli Tendulkar claim as Chopra names SENA advantage

De Villiers hits back after Kohli-Sachin comparison backlash

South Africa great AB de Villiers has clarified his recent comments comparing Virat Kohli with Sachin Tendulkar after his assessment of the two Indian batting legends triggered a backlash on social media. De Villiers had previously said Kohli was better than Tendulkar in seam-friendly overseas conditions, while crediting the former India opener with being the first Indian batter to show that players from the subcontinent could succeed consistently in challenging conditions outside Asia. The former South Africa captain's comments attracted criticism, prompting him to explain what he meant. "There was a bit of confusion with my Virat and Sachin comment. Remember, it's my opinion. I'm not axing anyone. I'm telling you the way that I see it. Sachin was the first to take things forward for India, showing all the youngsters what it takes to perform consistently everywhere around the world. I said that Virat sort of showed that there is a different dynamic to Indian batting by being good on the short ball. He found a way to counter that," de Villiers said on his YouTube channel. De Villiers acknowledged that Kohli's overseas numbers do not match Tendulkar's, but insisted that statistics alone do not determine how he assesses a batter. "We can always look at stats and say Virat's stats were not as good abroad, especially because of England, where he really struggled. But I still feel he looked confident and played the all-round, well-balanced cricket that's needed to succeed abroad and inspired a lot of youngsters around him. He took what he learnt from Sachin and took it forward. His record is not as good as Sachin's away from home, but we don't always look at stats, especially not me. And that's what I meant with showing the new generation of cricketers how the way f"

Aakash Chopra identifies where Kohli bettered Tendulkar in SENA

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has now pointed out one area where Kohli holds an advantage over Tendulkar - their Test performances in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia). Chopra highlighted that Kohli's Test batting average across these challenging overseas conditions is better than Tendulkar's. SENA countries are traditionally considered among the toughest places for batters, with pace-friendly pitches and conditions often making life difficult for visiting teams. Virat Kohli has produced several memorable Test performances in Australia, England and South Africa. His willingness to play an aggressive brand of cricket and take on quality fast bowling helped him become one of India's most successful overseas batters. Where does Kohli have the advantage? Tendulkar was equally prolific outside India and delivered numerous outstanding performances in countries such as Australia, England and South Africa during his illustrious career. Therefore, comparing the two solely on the basis of one statistic would not provide a complete picture of their careers. According to Chopra, however, South Africa is the particular SENA country where Kohli has a better Test batting average than Tendulkar. The two legends also played Test cricket

Delhi cricketer Medhavi Bidhuri requests Kohli follow

Medhavi Bidhuri has gone from being a promising Delhi cricketer to one of the most talked-about players in the Women's Delhi Premier League 2026. Her eye-catching '6-7' celebration has become a social media talking point, but the leg-spinner now has a rather simple wish - from none other than India great Virat Kohli on social media. Bidhuri shot to fame during the opening match of the tournament after dismissing South Delhi Superstarz batter Nishika Singh. Instead of a conventional celebration, she broke into the now-trending '6-7' seesaw hand gesture while sporting jersey number 67. The unusual moment quickly caught the attention of fans, with Bidhuri even being dubbed a social media 'national crush' as her popularity surged. The story behind the celebration is just as interesting. Bidhuri explained that the number 67 was not her first choice. She originally wanted to wear jersey number 12, but with that number already taken, her younger sister suggested 67. The pair then came up with the quirky celebration, which has since become closely associated with the young spinner. As her follower count continued to climb, however, Bidhuri revealed that there was one particular person she wanted to see among them. She expressed her wish to see Kohli following her on social media. "I have got so many followers now, but I want a follow-back from him (Kohli)," Bidhuri said, as quoted by India Today. Bidhuri's admiration for Kohli is hardly surprising. Being a Delhi cricketer herself, she has naturally looked up to the former India captain, while former India women's skipper Mithali Raj is another player she deeply respects. "Virat Kohli, obviously, because he is from Delhi. And Mithali Raj is very patient. I have personally attended a lot of camps with"

Kohli spotted with rakhi ahead of Raksha Bandhan

Virat Kohli was recently spotted at Delhi airport with a rakhi tied around his wrist, just ahead of Raksha Bandhan, drawing attention from fans on social media. The Indian cricket star was seen alongside his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, during their low-key appearance at the airport. Kohli's rakhi caught the attention of fans as Raksha Bandhan 2026 is set to be celebrated on Friday, August 28. The festival celebrates the special bond between brothers and sisters, with sisters traditionally tying a sacred thread around their brothers' wrists as a symbol of love, protection and familial affection. The 37-year-old cricketer has generally maintained a private approach to his personal life, although his public appearances with Anushka often generate significant interest among fans. The couple were recently spotted together at Delhi airport, with reports describing their appearance as a quiet and understated one. The sighting comes during a period when Kohli continues to remain in the spotlight despite his retirement from T20I cricket in 2024. He remains an important figure in Indian cricket and continues to feature in the ODI setup. His appearance with the rakhi offered fans a glimpse of the cricketer celebrating the festive spirit ahead of Raksha Bandhan. Kohli's simple airport appearance quickly became a talking point online, with fans focusing on the rakhi on his wrist and the significance of the festival. The viral sighting once again highlighted the public interest surrounding even the Indian batting star's off-field moments.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• AB de Villiers stood by his view that Kohli's overseas game has a different dynamic to Tendulkar's despite acknowledging the Indian great's superior away statistics.
• Aakash Chopra confirmed Kohli holds a superior Test batting average over Tendulkar specifically in South Africa within the SENA group of nations.
• Delhi women's cricketer Medhavi Bidhuri publicly requested a follow-back from Virat Kohli on social media following her DPL 2026 performances.
• Virat Kohli was spotted at Delhi airport with a rakhi on his wrist ahead of Raksha Bandhan 2026, which falls on August 28.