Disciple edges out the master

Virender Sehwag being placed above Sachin Tendulkar is the most controversial aspect of this Report.

Virender Sehwag being placed above Sachin Tendulkar is the most controversial aspect of this Report. This was closely examined and debated but Sehwag's superior match-winning propensity without a significant drop in overall consistency just about clinches the issue. Sehwag has 4 Man-of-the-Match awards in Tests India has won, Tendulkar 2. Sehwag has single-handedly changed the fortunes for his team in 3 Tests, Tendulkar arguably just once. Otherwise, they are even on most counts - Sehwag averages 51 overall and away, Tendulkar 54 overall and away, Sehwag 52 in Tests won (55 without Bangladesh), Tendulkar 64 (59 without Bangladesh).

HT Image

Tendulkar has built huge statistical monuments. Sehwag has two triple centuries, the second of which is the fastest of all time. Sehwag's strike rate of 78 (as opposed to Tendulkar's 54) emphasises his match-winning ability, both in the extra time it gives his team to get the opposition out twice, but also in how much it demoralises opponents and buoys his own team.

Sehwag's sample size of 66 Tests is nowhere near Tendulkar's (156) but substantial in its own right. Tendulkar's remarkable consistency over 19 years cannot be underestimated, but Sehwag's relative inexperience cannot be held against him. Perhaps the clincher is Sehwag's acceptance of the challenge of opening the batting in Tests and being such a huge success. Tendulkar's reluctance to open in Tests, despite being such an accomplished ODI opener, just edges Sehwag ahead — at least for the time being.

(Full Report at holdingwilley.com)