NEW DELHI: In the world of cricket, the debate between who is the greater player -
Sachin Tendulkar
or
Virat Kohli
- has captivated fans and experts alike. With Tendulkar celebrated as the 'God' of cricket and Kohli hailed as the 'King', the discussion often centers on who would be included in an all-time
ultimate Playing XI
.
Former English cricketer
David Lloyd
, known affectionately as 'Bumble', recently weighed in on this perennial debate during an interaction on talkSPORT Cricket.
Lloyd's task was to choose between Tendulkar and Kohli for the ultimate Test Playing XI—a decision that elicited an immediate reaction.
"I did a bit of research, got on social media, and I threw it out there. You can only have one. 95 percent said Sachin. Some are telling me, criticising me, some even asking the question. It's ridiculous. There is only one answer. The one thing that kept coming up was that Sachin would leave his ego at home. I think the other guy is quite a personable chap, Virat Kohli," Lloyd said.
Reflecting on their Test cricket careers, Lloyd had a clear preference. "In Test cricket, Sachin. The other guy is incredible, Virat Kohli. Dangerous. Would take the game away. Exciting player. If I had a choice in a Test match between Sachin Tendulkar and
Brian Lara
, I would have Lara. He could hit the ball in places that weren't even invented, and could do it all very naturally. A different animal, Lara. He could get a bit touchy but I never saw that with Sachin Tendulkar. He was on an even keel all the time, Tendulkar. Didn't really take chances. So in Test match, between him and Kohli, two fabulous players. It's not really an argument, Sachin.”
While Lloyd favored Tendulkar for a Test XI, he expressed a different view for an all-format XI, highlighting the distinct eras and formats in which Kohli and Tendulkar excelled. Kohli’s era, with its emphasis on
T20 cricket
and the rigorous schedule of modern tournaments like the IPL, showcased his versatility and adaptability.
"Virat Kohli," Lloyd stated when choosing for an all-format XI. "Sachin was sublime. All is right with the world, but I like a bit of rock and roll. We're talking about two of the greatest players there's ever been. We're trying to look at T20s and ODIs, you could easily go for Kohli."
English (US) ·