AB de Villiers fires backs at Dodda Ganesh | Source- AFP
AB de Villiers has been at the centre of the limelight since he made controversial comments on the Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli debate, picking the latter over Tendulkar.
The RCB Hall of Fame inductee is one of the closest friends of Kohli, as the duo shared the dressing room for 11 good years at the Indian Premier League (IPL). At RCB, the duo had a stupendous time together, both on and off the field. However, de Villiers was unable to lift the coveted trophy with Kohli.
AB de Villiers reiterates on comments on Kohli vs Tendulkar
After receiving a stick for his comments on the Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar debate, AB de Villiers reiterated his statement, stating it is his opinion.
Although he referred to Tendulkar as the first flag-bearer of India’s batting, the South African legend deemed Kohli as a different dynamic to Indian batting.
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"I see there was a bit of confusion with my Virat and Sachin comment. 'Remember, it’s my opinion. I’m not asking anyone. I’m telling you the way that I see it. Sachin Tendulkar was the first dude to take things forward for India, showing all the youngsters what it takes to perform consistently everywhere around the world. I said that Virat Kohli, sort of, showed that there is a different dynamic to Indian batting by being really good on the short ball. He found a way to counter that," AB de Villiers said on his YouTube Channel.
AB de Villiers’ comments irritated Dodda Ganesh
Meanwhile, AB de Villiers’ comments caused hara-kiri in the cricketing circles, with former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh, who played cricket with Sachin Tendulkar during the 1990s, taking offence.
The former Karnataka seamer went extreme on his social media, rhetorically asking de Villiers to pass on his weed, implying that the South African might have been under the the influence while calling Virat Kohli better than Sachin Tendulkar.
“Pass on the weed brother,” Dodda Ganesh had said while replying to AB de Villiers’ comments.
Why is Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar debate important?
Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar have both contributed to Indian cricket in their own capacities.
The legendary Master Blaster was the torch-bearer of the Indian batting throughout the 1990s, when he had literally zilch support from the other end. However, as Tendulkar remained the cornerstone of the Indian team for almost 24 years, he not only helped the team win crucial matches but also inspired a generation of cricketers.
From that generation that Sachin Tendulkar inspired, Virat Kohli was the numero uno to come through the ranks. Although the Chasemaster brought a different hunger and zeal to stand tall against mighty opposition, he has always had utter respect for his predecessor, which he has articulated time and again.
Statistically, Tendulkar is head and shoulders ahead of his successor in terms of runs and overall centuries. But Kohli surpassed his mentor in the ODI hundreds’ count during the 2023 World Cup.
Nevertheless, the Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar debate has and will always stay relevant as it remains vital for the endorsement of the game.
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