'Sachin would leave his ego at home' - David Lloyd opines on Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli debate

It is a long-going debate about who is better between Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. While the Master Blaster has surmounted every possible record in more than two-decade career, some records are still intact. Kohli on the other hand has been on the right path to challenge the legend. He broke Tendulkar’s record for most ODI hundreds in the recently concluded World Cup 2023.

Though the former Indian batter’s 100 centuries milestone is hard to cover, Kohli is just 20 tons shy. With fitness at his disposal and a lot of cricket left in him, it is interesting to see whether he creates records of records. However, Former England Cricketer, David Lloyd has his say on the hot topic. When asked to pick between Sachin and Kohli for the ultimate Test-playing XI, he termed the star Indian batter as a “personable chap.”

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"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 as quoted by TOI.

Lara could get a bit touchy but I never saw that with Sachin Tendulkar: Lloyd

Lloyd picked the 51-year-old to be in the ultimate Test-playing XI over the white ball freak Kohli. He added that Tendulkar perhaps was the best batter in red-ball cricket. His opinion shifted for a while as brought West Indies legend, Brian Lara into the conversation. He then asserted that given a chance to pick between Sachin and Lara, he would go for the southpaw.

"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,” he continued.

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“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," Lloyd concluded.