Virat Kohli versus Sachin Tendulkar ODI centuries comparison across eras

In the world of cricket, two names stand out as giants, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport – Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. While comparisons between these cricketing legends are inevitable, today we take a closer look at their remarkable journey to ODI centuries and the unique records they have etched in history.

Virat Kohli's march to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record of most ODI centuries at the biggest level in the form of the ODI World Cup 2023, has been nothing short of remarkable. What sets Kohli apart is the speed at which he achieved this milestone. In just 15 years, Kohli notched up an impressive 49 ODI centuries, while Tendulkar's illustrious ODI career spanned 22 years.

Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar- Average innings comparison

While the difference in centuries appears substantial, a closer look reveals an interesting similarity in their century-scoring frequency, concerning the averages of their respective eras. Tendulkar secured one century every 9.22 innings, while Kohli boasts a rate of one century every 5.65 innings, making their achievements comparable when considering the different eras they played in.

As per ESPN Cricinfo, the statistics reveal that in Tendulkar's era, there was one century every 1.96 matches, compared to Kohli's 1.26 matches per hundred. In the games where Tendulkar graced the field, there were 131 centuries from Indian batters. In contrast, Kohli's presence led to 137 centuries, showcasing his influence on the team's performance.

Virat Kohli- The Master of Chases

Virat Kohli's record for scoring centuries in the chase is noteworthy, with 27 ODI centuries, 23 of which culminated in victories. Tendulkar, on the other hand, had 17 centuries while chasing, but only three of those ended in defeats. While Tendulkar had the upper hand in scoring centuries while batting first (32 against Kohli's 22), India's win percentage during Kohli's era has been significantly higher, at 61.59%, compared to Tendulkar's 50.54%. Consequently, 41 of Kohli's 49 centuries have come in victorious matches, compared to Tendulkar's 33 out of 49.

Also Check: List of Virat Kohli international & IPL centuries

Demography-wise centuries comparison between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar

The geographical distribution of their centuries provides an interesting contrast. Tendulkar scored 20 centuries at home, whereas Kohli has 23 out of his 49 centuries in India. However, Kohli's prowess is evident in away games, where he scored 21 centuries, while Tendulkar had only 12.

Kohli's ODI journey primarily consisted of bilateral series, while Tendulkar's era featured more varied competitions. Kohli has managed to score at least one ODI century in each of the nine countries he has played in, a testament to his adaptability. Tendulkar, on the other hand, played in 16 different countries and scored centuries in 12.

Also Check: Most Runs in ODI World Cup 2023

Their centuries were distributed across a similar number of venues, with Tendulkar notching up centuries at 34 grounds and Kohli at 32 venues.

Sachin Tendulkar holds an edge over Virat Kohli in teamwise centuries

In terms of quality, Sachin Tendulkar registered centuries against 11 different teams, including the associate nations, while Kohli's 49 centuries have all been against full-member countries. Notably, Tendulkar had nine centuries against Australia, the most against any single team. In contrast, Kohli boasts a record ten centuries against Sri Lanka, a unique ODI record, and has five or more centuries against six different countries.

Sachin Tendulkar the 'Lone Warrior'

Finally, when it comes to sharing the limelight with their teammates, Tendulkar had 32 centuries when he was the lone centurion, compared to Kohli's 22. In matches where both batters scored centuries, Tendulkar achieved this feat only nine times, while Kohli managed it 13 times. Kohli also scored six centuries when India were bowled out, on par with Tendulkar's tally.