Virat Kohli Betters Sachin Tendulkar In Chasing Down Totals, Says Shane Warne

Shane Warne, mentor of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, thinks that Indian cricket has come a long way in term of performance and the talent pool India currently has, makes them one of the strongest teams in world cricket. Captain Virat Kohli, with his performance and leadership role, has breathed new life in the young Indian team, making them fearless and fierce on field. Warne went a step further in praising Kohli and said that even cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar could not do what the current Indian team captain has done while chasing down totals in One-day Internationals (ODIs).

"I think the way Virat plays and you look at his numbers and it's uncanny how many times he has got hundreds in ODI cricket chasing totals down. I don't think anyone, not even Sachin could do what Virat's done. We know Sachin and Brian Lara were the two best players of all time in our generation," Warne was quoted as telling India Today.

While Kohli has scored 21 centuries during a run chase, out of which 19 have come in winning cause, Tendulkar hit 17 centuries during a run-chase, out of which 14 led India to victory.

"But Virat and AB de Villiers; it's very difficult to separate those guys. Virat is as good as anyone that I have seen play the game. Wonderful, terrific player, I love his energy and passion. I am sure when he finishes in ten years or so he will be spoken about in the same breath as Sachin," Warner further added.

However, in the list of most ODI hundreds, Kohli (35) still trails the Master Blaster, who has 51 ODI centuries to his name.