AB de Villiers Says Virat Kohli Was Better Than Sachin Tendulkar in Test Cricket
AB de Villiers has declared Virat Kohli superior to Sachin Tendulkar in Test cricket, particularly away from home. The Proteas legend made the bold claim on his YouTube channel on August 19, 2026, following India's commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle.
Cricket fans worldwide are buzzing after South African batting icon AB de Villiers made a monumental statement, asserting that Virat Kohli elevated India's Test batting to unprecedented heights on foreign soil, even beyond the benchmarks set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. De Villiers shared his insights on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in the wake of India's commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle. Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir Rift Rumours Rubbished by Batting Coach Sitanshu Kotak
"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," de Villiers stated. "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."
The Sachin Tendulkar Legacy
Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest, retired in 2013 as the highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, with an astounding 15,921 runs from 200 matches at an average of 53.78, including 51 centuries. His pioneering efforts in overseas conditions were particularly noteworthy. Tendulkar amassed 8,705 runs in 176 innings away from home at an average of 54.74, comprising 29 hundreds and 36 fifties, making him the leading run-scorer in overseas Test cricket.
His record in challenging SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries further solidifies his stature:
| Statistic | Sachin Tendulkar (SENA Tests) |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 63 |
| Runs Scored | 5,387 |
| Batting Average | 51.30 |
| Centuries | 17 |
| Fifties | 23 |
Virat Kohli's Overseas Dominance
Virat Kohli, who concluded his illustrious Test career in May 2025 at the age of 36, finished with 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, registering 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. De Villiers, Kohli's former Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate, praised Kohli's ability to not just adapt but dominate in challenging foreign conditions, asserting that he elevated India's Test batting success beyond previous benchmarks.
Virat Kohli's Away Test Record:
| Statistic | Virat Kohli (Away Tests) |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 66 |
| Runs Scored | 4,774 |
| Batting Average | 41.00 |
| Centuries | 16 |
Virat Kohli's SENA Test Record:
| Statistic | Virat Kohli (SENA Tests) |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 46 |
| Runs Scored | 3,661 |
| Batting Average | 42.08 |
| Centuries | 12 |
| Fifties | 14 |
De Villiers' comments have certainly stirred the pot, sparking fervent discussions among cricket aficionados about the relative merits of these two Indian cricketing giants. While statistics offer a clear comparison, the South African legend's assessment seems to emphasize Kohli's broader influence in instilling a more aggressive and dominant mindset for Indian batters away from home. The debate over who truly reigns supreme in Test cricket's toughest environments is set to continue for years to come.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2026 12:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
