De Villiers Defends Kohli-Tendulkar Comparison Amid Backlash

South Africa legend AB de Villiers has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent remarks comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, after his comments drew sharp criticism from fans online. De Villiers had earlier suggested Kohli handled seam-friendly overseas conditions better than Tendulkar, while acknowledging that Tendulkar was the pioneer who first proved Indian batters could thrive outside the subcontinent.

“It Was My Opinion,” Says De Villiers

Responding to the backlash on his YouTube channel, de Villiers clarified that his comments were never meant as criticism of either player. He explained that Tendulkar laid the foundation for Indian batting success abroad, while Kohli built on that legacy by showing a different approach, particularly against short-pitched bowling, which inspired a new generation of players.

Stats Still Favour Tendulkar Overseas

De Villiers conceded that Kohli’s overseas numbers fall short of Tendulkar’s, but argued that his assessment wasn’t purely statistical. He pointed to Kohli’s fitness, consistency and overall game as qualities that influenced younger cricketers, even if the record books tell a different story.

The numbers indeed favour Tendulkar significantly. The Master Blaster finished his career with 15,921 Test runs, including 8,705 scored overseas — the most by any batter in history. Kohli, who retired from Tests in May 2025, managed 9,230 runs overall, with 4,774 coming away from home.

The gap widens further in SENA countries, where Tendulkar amassed 5,387 runs at an average of 51.30, compared to Kohli’s 3,661 runs at 42.08. Despite the disparity, de Villiers maintained that his admiration for Kohli’s influence and adaptability stands independent of pure statistics.