AB de Villiers defends Kohli-Tendulkar comparison as personal opinion

AB de Villiers defended his remarks comparing Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar after facing backlash on social media. The former South Africa captain said his comments focused on the ability to adjust playing styles in foreign conditions, and that he was expressing a personal view rather than diminishing either player.

De Villiers acknowledged that statistics overall favour Tendulkar, but maintained that impact and influence present a different picture. He noted that Tendulkar established a template for subcontinental batters succeeding abroad, while Kohli pushed those boundaries further.

The former South Africa captain emphasised that both players contributed significantly to India's overseas success across different eras. He described the comparison as his personal opinion rather than an attempt to rank one above the other.