Hours after powering South Africa Champions to the WCL 2025 title with a breath-taking century, AB de Villiers found himself in the spotlight again. Not for his batting but for his honest take on one of cricket's most debated questions.
In a recent podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, the former South Africa captain shared his thoughts on the "Kohli vs Sachin" debate. He underlined their unique greatness across eras.
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While he didn't pick a clear winner, his comments drew attention for the honesty and nuance with which he approached the topic.
AB de Villiers shares his verdict on Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar in GOAT debate
When asked to weigh in on the age-old debate between two of India's cricketing icons - AB de Villiers offered a thoughtful and balanced perspective. The South African legend acknowledged the difficulty in comparing players from different eras.
"You can't compare different generations - I have lots of respect for Sachin, looked up to him. Virat is more my friend. It's very difficult. I think Virat was an all-format great, Sachin in longer format," said de Villiers.
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His statement avoids turning the conversation into a popularity contest. He highlighted the evolution of cricket over time instead.
He suggested that Sachin Tendulkar mastered the endurance-based version of the game and Kohli conquered it in all formats under the pressures of modern scheduling and expectations.
The podcast was recorded around the time of de Villiers' brilliant unbeaten 120 in the WCL 2025 final - a performance that reminded fans of his class.