NEW DELHI: Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has reignited one of cricket’s most enduring debates — Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar — by boldly naming the former India captain as the greatest cricketer of the last three decades.
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Speaking on talkSPORT Cricket, Harmison said Kohli’s ability to thrive amid immense scrutiny, adapt to the evolving demands of modern cricket, and maintain elite consistency made him stand out above even the legendary Tendulkar.
“I put Virat Kohli at number one over Sachin Tendulkar, and that would raise a lot of eyebrows,” Harmison said. “The way the game has changed over the last ten years, Virat’s had to deal with a hell of a lot more off-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 — you take Shane Warne out because he came earlier — I think it’s Virat Kohli.”
Kohli, who turns 37 next month, is set to return to the Indian side for the first time in seven months during the upcoming ODI series in Australia. During the 2023 ODI World Cup , he surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries and now tops the list with 51 ODI hundreds. In 302 games, Kohli has amassed 14,181 runs at an average of 57.88, ranking third on the all-time run charts behind Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara .
Harmison also weighed in on the Ajit Agarkar debate regarding senior players’ participation in domestic cricket, backing Kohli and Rohit Sharma .
“These guys haven’t played domestic cricket since 2013 and 2018 because they’ve been non-stop with India,” he said. “If Agarkar’s looking for a fight, he might get one — but he’s not going to win. This could be a heavy knockout in the first round if he tries to go in, especially without Virat.”
While Tendulkar remains Kohli’s idol and the yardstick of greatness for millions, Harmison’s remarks add new fuel to a rivalry that transcends numbers — one shaped as much by eras and expectations as by statistics and records.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Speaking on talkSPORT Cricket, Harmison said Kohli’s ability to thrive amid immense scrutiny, adapt to the evolving demands of modern cricket, and maintain elite consistency made him stand out above even the legendary Tendulkar.
“I put Virat Kohli at number one over Sachin Tendulkar, and that would raise a lot of eyebrows,” Harmison said. “The way the game has changed over the last ten years, Virat’s had to deal with a hell of a lot more off-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 — you take Shane Warne out because he came earlier — I think it’s Virat Kohli.”
Kohli, who turns 37 next month, is set to return to the Indian side for the first time in seven months during the upcoming ODI series in Australia. During the 2023 ODI World Cup , he surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries and now tops the list with 51 ODI hundreds. In 302 games, Kohli has amassed 14,181 runs at an average of 57.88, ranking third on the all-time run charts behind Tendulkar (18,426) and Kumar Sangakkara .
Harmison also weighed in on the Ajit Agarkar debate regarding senior players’ participation in domestic cricket, backing Kohli and Rohit Sharma .
“These guys haven’t played domestic cricket since 2013 and 2018 because they’ve been non-stop with India,” he said. “If Agarkar’s looking for a fight, he might get one — but he’s not going to win. This could be a heavy knockout in the first round if he tries to go in, especially without Virat.”
While Tendulkar remains Kohli’s idol and the yardstick of greatness for millions, Harmison’s remarks add new fuel to a rivalry that transcends numbers — one shaped as much by eras and expectations as by statistics and records.
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