England’s legendary pacer James Anderson has reignited the age-old debate between Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, revealing that Kohli was the tougher batter to bowl to, despite having dismissed both multiple times in his illustrious Test career.
🎙️ Anderson: “Kohli Transformed, Sachin Was Always Solid”
Speaking on the TalkSport Podcast, Anderson said:
“I had some success early against Kohli in 2014, exploiting his weakness outside off-stump. But by 2018, he was a completely different player—mentally and technically. That shift made him incredibly hard to bowl to.”
In contrast, Anderson described Tendulkar as “technically solid and calm”, with no major weaknesses to exploit. He dismissed Tendulkar nine times in 14 Tests, the most by any bowler, but noted that the contests were less intense and more respectful.
🔥 Kohli’s Competitive Edge Made Him a Nightmare
Anderson, who dismissed Kohli seven times in 25 Tests, emphasized the Indian star’s steely mindset and emotional intensity.
“Kohli wore his emotions on his sleeve. He thrived on aggression and battles within the game. That made him a nightmare to bowl to,” he added.
📊 Head-to-Head Stats
- Sachin Tendulkar: 9 dismissals in 23 innings
- Virat Kohli: 7 dismissals in 36 innings
- Kohli’s 2018 England tour: 593 runs, 2 centuries, 0 dismissals by Anderson
🧠 Shift in Dominance
Anderson highlighted a key difference:
“With Sachin, there wasn’t a shift in dominance. With Kohli, you could feel the momentum turn after 2014. He forced you to rethink your approach every time.”
