Anderson Makes Startling Claim About Tendulkar and Kohli: 'Didn't Feel Like...'
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James Anderson found Virat Kohli a tougher challenge than Sachin Tendulkar, having dismissed Tendulkar nine times and Kohli seven times in his 21-year career.
England's legendary fast bowler James Anderson relished his encounters with Indian cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli throughout his 21-year career. However, he found Kohli to be a slightly tougher challenge.
Anderson, who debuted in Test cricket in 2003, retired last season, concluding a remarkable career. He managed to dismiss Tendulkar nine times and Kohli seven times.
'I had some success early against Kohli the first time he came to England (2014). I really exploited, he had a weakness outside off stump, really exploited that and then the next time I played against him (in 2018) he'd obviously gone away and worked on that and it was like bowling at a different player," Anderson told talkSport.
It's important to note that Tendulkar and Kohli were at different stages in their careers when they faced Anderson, who still plays county cricket at 42.
'He'd (Kohli) really taken his game to a different level made it very difficult for not just me but for the bowlers in general and I think I got him out maybe four or five times the first series and then didn't get him out in the next series I played against him."
'Against Sachin for example I didn't feel like there was that sort of shift in dominance with Kohli, there was definitely a shift and yeah I found him a really difficult player to bowl at because he also had that sort of steely mindset."
James Anderson described Sachin Tendulkar as a 'God-like' figure, while Virat Kohli was more confrontational.
'Kohli wanted to get into a battle. He wanted you to know (that). He's very competitive and after that initial success it was pretty difficult to go up against him.
'With someone like Kohli he was a slightly different character to Sachin who was very mild-mannered, very calm at the crease and Virat was more expressive with his emotions and and wore his emotions on his sleeve and you could kind of see it with his captaincy when he celebrated wickets and stuff like that," added Anderson.
First Published:
June 16, 2025, 20:22 IST
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