Both have dazzled in whites under English skies, but the numbers tell two different stories
England has never been kind to subcontinental batters. Green tops, moving balls, overcast skies — it tests temperament and technique like few other places. But when India toured England over the past three decades, two legends stood out in the middle: Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Both carried huge expectations. Both played under intense scrutiny. And both, in their own way, faced English bowlers at their best.
But who had the better record? And more importantly, who left a bigger impact on English soil?
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Virat Kohli's record in England includes 17 Tests, 33 innings, and 1,096 runs with an average of 33.21. These figures don't shout dominance, but the story of his journey does.
In 2014, he hit his lowest point as a Test batter. Over 5 Tests, he made just 134 runs, averaging slightly over 13. James Anderson and the swinging Dukes ball repeatedly exposed his weakness outside off-stump. His footwork was tentative, his judgement blurred, and the pressure overwhelming.
However, in 2018, Kohli returned to England and rewrote his story.
149 at Edgbaston: Chasing England's 287 in the first innings of the first Test, India lost early wickets. Kohli stood firm with a masterclass in restraint and counterattack. He faced 225 balls, hit 22 boundaries, and almost single-handedly kept India in the match.
103 at Trent Bridge: With India trailing 2-0 in the series, this second-innings century helped set up a 203-run victory — one of India's most comprehensive away wins. Kohli finished the series with 593 runs, more than anyone else, averaging nearly 60.
In his later outing — including the 2021/22 tour — Kohli's figures dipped, but his 2018 effort remains among the finest batting turnarounds in recent Test history.
Sachin Tendulkar played the same number of Tests in England — 17 — but across four tours, from 1990 to 2011. His record: 1,575 runs from 30 innings, with an average of 54.31, including 4 hundreds and 8 fifties.
His defining innings include:
119 at Old Trafford (1990): Just 17 years old, Tendulkar pulled India out of trouble in the second innings. Chasing 408, he remained unbeaten and secured a draw. It was his first Test hundred — and a sign of what would come.
193 at Leeds (2002): On a friendly batting surface, Tendulkar anchored India to 628/8 declared. His 330-ball innings featured 19 fours and 3 sixes and set up an innings victory. This was Tendulkar at his clinical best — occupying the crease, punishing errors, and building pressure.
91 at Nottingham (2007): Though he fell short of a hundred, this innings laid the foundation for India's last series win in England. It wasn't flashy, but it was efficient, and it showed how Tendulkar adapted his game to suit conditions.
Tendulkar's strength lies in consistency. Over 21 years, he returned from every tour with runs, often under pressure, often against world-class attacks.
Kohli's peak moment in England (2018) is arguably greater than any single Tendulkar tour. He arrived, written off, and walked away as the top scorer.
However, Tendulkar's career average of 54.31 in England, combined with his performances in both winning and losing causes, places him higher in terms of long-term impact.
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While Kohli fought back from adversity, Tendulkar never truly faltered. He showed up, year after year, in different English conditions, and delivered.
So, who was better in England? If you want a single summer of domination, Kohli's 2018 series is unmatched. But if you're judging across decades, under different captains, against different generations of bowlers, Sachin Tendulkar stands taller.
