Gautam Gambhir picks Sachin Tendulkar over Virat Kohli as the best ODI batsman

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir has picked Sachin Tendulkar over Virat Kohli as the best ODI batsman considering the era in which the master blaster played. Kohli is the closest to Sachin among all the active batsmen in terms of breaking his records at the moment and the debate of who is the best has been going on for quite some time now.

Sachin Tendulkar finished with 18426 runs after playing a whopping 463 One-Day Internationals with 51 tons and 68 fifties. His average of 44.8 is also impeccable given the number of matches he played during his illustrious career. However, Kohli has shown amazing consistency in the last few years, especially in the 50-over format, and has already scored 43 centuries in 248 ODIs amassing 11867 runs at an average of 59.3.

But according to Gautam Gambhir, Sachin has to be the best given the fact that he played when the game was probably balanced for both batsmen and bowlers. He pointed out that there were five fielders outside the 30-year circle earlier and the ball used to reverse swing as well after some point. The rule changes have made it the batsman’s game these days which has assisted the batters according to the cricketer turned politician.

“Sachin Tendulkar, because probably with one white ball and four fielders inside the circle, not five fielders outside, it will be Sachin Tendulkar for me. It’s difficult because ViratKohli has done phenomenally well but I think the rules have changed as well, which has helped a lot of new batters.

“Look at how Sachin Tendulkar has played, different rules, that time 230 to 240 was a winning total. Probably, I’ll go with Sachin Tendulkar if we see the longevity and flow of the one-day cricket format,” he said while speaking to Star Sports in Cricket Connected show.

Rule changes have made batting easier, says Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir also pointed out at the current rules in ODI cricket where two new balls are used at either ends which has taken the reverse swing out of the equation. Also, with the ball not getting old, the finger spinners have found it tough to make a statement as well.

“The new generation, with two new balls, no reverse swing, nothing for the finger spin, five fielders inside for the 50 overs, probably that makes batting much easier,” the 47-year-old added.