# AB de Villiers comments on Kohli and Tendulkar

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ab-de-villiers-comments-on-kohli-and-tendulkar
> Updated: 2026-08-27T03:20:08.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

South African cricket legend AB de Villiers sparked discussion regarding the legacies of Indian Test batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Initially, de Villiers suggested that while Tendulkar pioneered the ability for subcontinental batters to succeed in bouncy and seaming conditions, Kohli “took that forward and raised the bar.”

Following backlash from fans, de Villiers issued a clarification. He stated his remarks were intended to highlight the unique impact each player had on Indian cricket rather than declaring one superior to the other. He noted that Tendulkar established the foundation for worldwide performance, while Kohli influenced the next generation through fitness, leadership, and the ability to counter seam and bounce. De Villiers also acknowledged that Kohli’s overseas statistics are not necessarily better than Tendulkar’s.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-27: AB de Villiers clarifies Kohli and Tendulkar comparison

AB de Villiers clarified his comments comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, stating he intended to highlight their different roles in evolving Indian batting rather than ranking them.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ab-de-villiers-clarifies-kohli-and-tendulkar-comparison

### 2026-08-20: AB de Villiers compares Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar

AB de Villiers stated that Virat Kohli raised the bar for Indian Test batting in overseas conditions, building upon the foundation laid by Sachin Tendulkar.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ab-de-villiers-compares-virat-kohli-and-sachin-tendulkar

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Cite as: AB de Villiers comments on Kohli and Tendulkar. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ab-de-villiers-comments-on-kohli-and-tendulkar