The Big Four Still Lie 'Just Below Tendulkar', States ENG Legend James Anderson
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While The Big Four represent the modern era's pinnacle of batting excellence, Sachin Tendulkar stands as a timeless benchmark.
'What's a King to a God?'
Well, James Anderson remains a believer in the 'God of Cricket', as he rubbished talks of any of the modern day 'Big Four' — consisting of the likes of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson — being better than Sabhin Tendulkar himself.
England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson relished his encounters with Sachin Tendulkar and the Big Four throughout his 21-year career.
But when it boiled down to who amongst them was the best, in Anderson's mind, the answer was no-nonsense: Tendulkar all day.
Source: Talk Sport Cricket dated 14th May, 2025..
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— AT10 (@Loyalsachfan10) June 16, 2025
'Where do those four (Kohli, Root, Smith, Kane) compare with Tendulkar?" asked TalkSport, to which Anderson, without a second's thought, replied, 'Just below Tendulkar".
'The Big Four" players have dominated international cricket since the early 2010s, raising the standards of batting across all formats.
However, any discussion about batting greatness inevitably leads to comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian cricket legend often hailed as the 'God of Cricket."
Sachin Tendulkar's statistical record remains monumental: having scored 100 international centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs), 34,357 international runs (most by any player), over a 24-year career.
In contrast, the Big Four, while exceptional, still chase some of these milestones with hopes of coming close to Tendulkar.
As of mid-2025, Virat Kohli is closest, with 80+ international centuries and over 26,000 runs. Steve Smith boasts one of the highest Test batting averages since Bradman. Joe Root has over 12,000 Test runs and continues to be England's batting mainstay. Finally, Kane Williamson, though less flashy, is New Zealand's most consistent batsman ever.
Yet, Tendulkar set records that remain aspirational even for this elite group.
While The Big Four represent the modern era's pinnacle of batting excellence, Sachin Tendulkar stands as a timeless benchmark. His achievements were not just about numbers but about redefining cricket in a pre-IPL, pre-T20 world.
The Big Four, playing in a more commercial, fast-paced era, have adapted brilliantly but remain in the long shadow of Tendulkar's legacy.
In essence, comparing the Big Four to Sachin is not about who is better—it is about recognizing different eras of greatness. Tendulkar laid the foundation; the Big Four continue to build on it.
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