'I Found Him A Difficult Player...': James Anderson Explains Why Virat Kohli Was A Tougher Batter To Bowl Than Sachin Tendulkar; Video
England’s legendary fast bowler James Anderson recently shared his thoughts on who was the more difficult batter to bowl to between Indian greats Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Speaking on a podcast, Anderson said that although both were world-class players, they were challenging in different ways.
Anderson revealed that Virat Kohli was more difficult to bowl to at certain times. He explained that Kohli had a weakness outside the off stump early in his career, and Anderson tried to exploit it by bowling wider to make him edge the ball. This plan worked well for Anderson in 2014 when he dismissed Kohli several times in England. However, Anderson said that Kohli improved a lot over the years and became very hard to dismiss.
“Sometimes it felt like I could get him(Virat) out every ball, and then other times I felt completely helpless. Against Sachin, for example, I did not feel like that it was that sort of shift in dominance. With Kohli, there was definitely a shift and I found him a difficult player to bowl at," Anderson said.
On the other hand, Anderson praised Sachin Tendulkar as the best batter he had ever faced. He said that Tendulkar didn’t have an obvious weakness and it was very difficult to get him out. Anderson mentioned that whenever he bowled to Tendulkar, he had to be extremely accurate because even a small mistake could cost runs.
Interestingly, Anderson has taken Tendulkar’s wicket nine times and Kohli’s seven times in Test matches. But for Anderson, it was not just about the numbers, it was about how consistent and perfect he needed to be against each player. He felt that Kohli had some weak points, but with Tendulkar, every ball had to be close to perfect.
Sachin Tendulkar Intervenes To Preserve Pataudi Legacy In India–England Test Series: Reports
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has reportedly played a key role in ensuring that the Pataudi legacy remains part of the India–England Test series, even after the recent decision to rename the trophy as the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
The Pataudi Trophy, introduced in 2007, was named in honour of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, one of India’s most respected Test captains, and his father Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who uniquely represented both England and India in Test cricket. The trophy symbolized a rich historical link between the two cricketing nations.
Recently, the BCCI and ECB decided to rename the trophy to honour Tendulkar and James Anderson, England’s highest wicket-taker in Tests. While the new name celebrates modern greats, many fans and experts felt it overlooked the historical significance of the Pataudi name.
Understanding the importance of tradition, Tendulkar personally reached out to senior officials in both boards and also had discussions with Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI and ICC chairman.
Tendulkar’s gesture has been widely praised as an act of humility and reverence for the game's history. It also highlights the importance of respecting cricket’s rich heritage even as the sport continues to evolve with new stars and achievements.
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