Root made the choice during a light-hearted “This or That” segment by England’s fan group, Barmy Army, where he was pitted against a host of cricketing greats. Among them were the likes of Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and, of course, Virat Kohli. Without overthinking it, Root selected Tendulkar. NDTV Sports
This decision isn’t surprising given Tendulkar’s overwhelming career numbers. Across Test matches and ODIs combined, he has amassed 34,357 international runs, including 100 centuries throughout both formats. Virat Kohli, while a phenomenal batter in his own right, has many fewer total runs—about 27,599—and hasn’t yet matched Sachin’s aggregate tally. NDTV Sports
In addition to volume, there are averages to consider. Tendulkar leads in Test batting average over Kohli, whereas Kohli has the edge in ODIs. Still, numbers alone don’t always carry the full weight in debates like this, and Root’s pick reflects not just statistics but respect for Tendulkar’s enduring legacy and impact on the game. NDTV Sports
Root, who himself is rapidly climbing the list of all-time Test run scorers, surpassed the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting to become No. 2 in the Test run charts,Tendulkar’s accomplishments with reverence. NDTV Sports
So, even though many fans continue to argue over who is “better,” Root has made his stance crystal clear: Sachin stands tall in his eyes. Whether others agree, that’s up to them — but for Root, the choice is simple.
Interestingly, Root himself is now among the game’s modern giants. He recently overtook legends like Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis Test run scorers, climbing to second place. Even from such a lofty position, Root clearly holds Sachin in the highest regard.
While fans will continue to compare Tendulkar and Kohli for years to come, Root’s choice shows where his admiration lies. In his eyes, the “Little Master” remains unmatched. And for many around the world, that one-word verdict — “Sachin” — will feel like the most fitting tribute of all
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