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Former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh has sparked a fresh cricket debate after taking a cheeky swipe at South African great AB de Villiers over his assessment of Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.
De Villiers recently suggested that Kohli was a stronger batter than Tendulkar when playing in seam-friendly and bouncy overseas Test conditions. The former South Africa batter acknowledged Tendulkar’s pioneering role but argued that Kohli took that legacy further and raised the standard.
Ganesh clearly disagreed with the assessment. Responding to De Villiers on X, formerly known as Twitter, the former India pacer wrote: “Pass on the weed, brother.”
The humorous response quickly added another layer to one of cricket’s most enduring debates: Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar.
What Did AB de Villiers Say About Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar?
De Villiers praised Tendulkar for becoming one of the first Indian batters to demonstrate that a player from the subcontinent could succeed consistently in difficult overseas conditions.
However, he believed Kohli eventually went a step further.
According to De Villiers, Tendulkar established the benchmark for Indian batters overseas, while Kohli continued that development and performed at an even higher level in challenging conditions.
De Villiers also pointed to the influence of both players on the next generation of Indian batters, including KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal.
His comments were therefore not necessarily intended to diminish Tendulkar’s achievements. Instead, they represented his personal assessment of the two legends specifically in difficult overseas Test environments.
Dodda Ganesh’s ‘Pass on the Weed’ Comment Goes Viral
Ganesh’s response was short but immediately caught attention.
The former India pacer did not provide a detailed statistical argument against De Villiers. Instead, he used humor to express disbelief at the comparison.
“Pass on the weed, brother,” Ganesh posted on X.
The comment reflects how emotionally charged comparisons between Tendulkar and Kohli can become among Indian cricket fans.
Both players have enormous legacies, although their careers unfolded in different eras and under different playing conditions.
Sachin Tendulkar vs Virat Kohli: Overseas Test Numbers
Statistics provide an interesting counterpoint to the debate.
Tendulkar accumulated 8,705 runs in 106 overseas Tests, averaging around 54.7, while Kohli has scored 4,894 runs in 68 overseas Tests, with an average around 41.5, according to figures cited in reports following the controversy.
Tendulkar’s longer career naturally gives him a considerably larger sample size, so direct statistical comparisons need to account for differences in eras, opposition, schedules and playing conditions.
Nevertheless, the numbers demonstrate why many fans and analysts would challenge the suggestion that Kohli has clearly surpassed Tendulkar in overseas Test cricket.
Why Virat Kohli Still Has a Strong Case
Despite the statistical argument in Tendulkar’s favor, Kohli has several achievements that strengthen his case.
One of his most significant accomplishments came during India’s tours of Australia. Kohli played a central role in India’s historic Test series victory in Australia, helping establish India as a much more competitive force in overseas cricket.
His batting peak also produced remarkable performances in England and Australia.
In the 2018 England series, Kohli scored 593 runs, including two centuries, while his performances in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy established him as one of India’s leading Test batsmen.
Kohli also became known for his exceptional fitness, aggressive approach and willingness to embrace difficult overseas challenges.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Overseas Legacy Remains Exceptional
Tendulkar’s achievements, meanwhile, remain extraordinary.
He played international cricket for more than two decades and succeeded against several generations of world-class bowling attacks.
His overseas Test record is particularly impressive, with major performances across Australia, England and South Africa.
Tendulkar’s ability to adapt to different conditions helped establish him as one of the most complete batsmen of his generation.
His longevity is another factor that makes the Kohli-Tendulkar comparison difficult.
Tendulkar continued to produce major performances late in his career. In 2010, at the age of 37, he scored more than 1,500 Test runs in 14 matches, including seven centuries, according to data cited in reports discussing the comparison.
Different Eras Make the Comparison Difficult
One of the biggest problems with the Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar debate is that the two players operated in different eras.
Tendulkar faced bowling attacks featuring legends such as Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Kohli, meanwhile, played during an era featuring bowlers such as James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada.
The nature of Test cricket has also evolved considerably, making direct comparisons more complicated.
Factors such as pitches, schedules, technology, protective equipment and workload management have changed over the years.
AB de Villiers’ View Adds Fuel to an Old Debate
De Villiers’ comments are particularly interesting because he played against both generations of Indian cricket.
He also shares a close relationship with Kohli from their time together in the Indian Premier League, where the two represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
That relationship does not necessarily invalidate his opinion, but it provides additional context for why his assessment has attracted attention.
Cricket fans are likely to continue debating whether Kohli has genuinely surpassed Tendulkar in specific areas or whether Tendulkar’s overall record remains the stronger benchmark.
