Ex-England Star Declares Virat Kohli Greater Than Sachin Tendulkar

The debate over who is greater, Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar, never seems to end. Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has added fuel to the fire by placing Kohli above Tendulkar. He praised Kohli’s resilience under pressure and his consistent performances over the past 20–30 years.

Harmison said, “I put Virat Kohli at number one over Sachin Tendulkar, and that would raise a lot of eyebrows. But I thought his career, and what he had to do in his career, the way the game changed over the last ten years, Virat had to deal with a hell of a lot more off the field stuff that would affect him on the field. For me, in the last 20-30 years, the greatest cricketer that has played the game… I think it’s Virat Kohli.”

Kohli has already surpassed Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries. However, he is unlikely to overtake Tendulkar’s massive 18,426 ODI runs, sitting third with 14,181. At 37, Kohli has retired from Tests, leaving him behind Tendulkar in many career statistics.

He ended his Test career in May after 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. As captain in 68 Tests, he led India to 40 wins, becoming the country’s most successful Test captain.

Now, Kohli plays only ODIs and is set for the three-match series in Australia later this month. Questions remain about his long-term role in India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup, as the team continues to make bold changes for the future.