Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are regarded as two of the greatest batters of all time in world cricket. While Sachin Tendulkar went on to become the leading run-scorer in ODIs and Tests after a spectacular 24-year career, Virat Kohli has been trying to catch up with the legendary batter and is the leading run-scorer in T20Is.

Kohli and Tendulkar played with each other for the first time in 2009 during the Compaq Cup final against Sri Lanka, where the Master Blaster smashed 138 off 133 balls to help India win the trophy. Kohli was also part of the playing XI in Tendulkar’s farewell Test in 2013 against West Indies in Mumbai. 

Kohli often gets compared to Tendulkar for the impact he has had on Indian cricket, but where does he fare when it comes to international stats? Here’s a deep dive into Kohli vs Sachin records.

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar stats comparison

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar overall international records

Player

Matches

Runs

Average

Strike rate

100s

50s

Virat Kohli

530

26,884

53.55

79.59

80

140

Sachin Tendulkar

664

34,357

48.52

79.94

100

164

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar in T20Is

Sachin Tendulkar was a part of India’s first-ever T20I fixture against South Africa in 2006, but never played the format again internationally. Virat Kohli made his T20I debut in 2010 and is now the second-highest run-scorer in the format after becoming the first batter to complete 4,000 runs in the shortest format.

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar T20Is records 

Virat Kohli Criteria Sachin Tendulkar
125 Matches 1
4,188 Runs 10
48.69 Average 10
137.04 Strike rate 88.83
1/38 100s/50s -

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar is often hailed as the greatest limited overs batter of all time and is the only batter to have scored over 15,000 runs in this format. However, Virat Kohli has exhibited his dominance in ODIs in the last decade and established himself as a specialist in run chases. He also averages above 58 in the format, the most for any batter with over 6,000 runs. 

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar ODI records

Virat Kohli Criteria Sachin Tendulkar
292 Matches 463
13,848 Runs 18,426
58.67 Average 44.83
93.58 Strike rate 86.24
50/72 100s/50s 49/96

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar Test records

Sachin Tendulkar is well clear in Test cricket and has scored 51 centuries in the format, the most for any batter. He finished with 15,921 runs at an average of 53.79. Kohli has also made his mark in the longest format and has scored seven double centuries so far - the most for an Indian batter - surpassing Tendulkar and Sehwag’s record of six double tons.

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar Test records

Virat Kohli Criteria Sachin Tendulkar
113 Matches 200
8,848 Runs 15,921
49.15 Average 53.79
55.56 Strike rate 54.08
29/30 100s/50s 51/68

Photo Credit: Alamy