Sachin Tendulkar calls Virat Kohli one of leading players of all time

Tendulkar also said that Shaw has potential of succeeding in all formats.

Virat Kohli reached 10,000 runs in ODIs the fastest and has 38 ODI centuries | Getty

Former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar sits at the Everest of run-scoring records in both Tests and ODIs at the moment. However, his record of ODI centuries might soon be lost by him given the form of current Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Kohli has not only passed the 10,000-run mark in ODIs during the ongoing ODI series against West Indies but has also notched up 38 ODI centuries. Kohli had broken Tendulkar’s record of being the fastest player to 10,000 ODI runs.

On Thursday, Tendulkar praised Kohli and said, “Coming to Virat’s development as a player, I think he has developed immensely. And I always saw that spark in him. I always felt that he is going to be one of the leading players in the world, not just of this generation, but one of the leading players of all time.

And then it is again about opinions. But if one has to go into comparisons, then I don’t want to get into that. There were different bowlers who played in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and possibly in my time and what they are playing today. So I wouldn’t want to get into that,” he said.

The legendary player was speaking after the first India camp of the Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy began at the D Y Patil Stadium.

I think first of all, like how Virat has said and I have been saying for 24 years that I have played. I have never believed in comparison. Each generation if you take from the time cricket was played from day one to now, the change has been constant,” the master said while mentioning that he did not believe in comparisons.

Then each generation played differently, there were different rules, there were different restrictions, there were different surfaces, there were different balls also at times. So a lot of things, boundary lines if you see earlier, I have played where the ball had to hit the concrete in Australia, things have changed over the years. I personally don’t feel one should be comparing different generations,” he said.

But within that generation also I personally believe there should not be any comparison, because every individual whatever he or she does need to be respected and judge by itself, it doesn’t have to be always judged by comparing someone and I don’t believe in that (comparisons),” Tendulkar noted.

Tendulkar also praised Prithvi Shaw, who made a century on Test debut vs WI | AFP

Tendulkar was also full of praise for teen protégé Prithvi Shaw and said, “I think I can talk about Prithvi. I have never given my opinion on selection whether who should be picked and who should be dropped. And I would like to maintain it that way because that is like influencing the selectors to do something. But just if I have to look at Prithvi as a player, he’s progressed tremendously.

Tendulkar also spoke about how Shaw will cope with Australian pitches, “I feel with the age he is only going to get better and better. So Prithvi is someone who will continue to perform well. Yes, Australian trip is gonna be a good exposure to him. And whatever I have seen, he is fast-learner. So I see him ready for that.

I think he (Shaw) has performed well in all formats. So he has performed well. So if you are not suited for all formats you can’t perform well,” said Tendulkar when asked whether he would like to see Shaw in ODIs.

(Inputs: PTI)

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 01 Nov, 2018

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