Ricky Ponting Settles Kohli vs Tendulkar Debate With a Bold Verdict on ODI Greatness

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting hails Virat Kohli as the greatest ODI player, backing him to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time run tally.

February 26, 2025: Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has weighed in on the long-standing debate between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, declaring that he has never seen a better ODI player than Kohli. Speaking to ICC Review, Ponting praised Kohli’s exceptional consistency and work ethic, even as the Indian star chases Sachin’s monumental 18,426-run record in ODI cricket.

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"I don't think I've ever seen a better 50-over player than Virat Kohli," Ponting said. "Now that he's surpassed me in the all-time runs list, he will undoubtedly want to give himself the best chance to be remembered as the leading run-scorer in ODI history."

With 14,085 runs to his name, Kohli still needs 4,341 more runs to surpass Tendulkar. While acknowledging the challenge, Ponting believes the 36-year-old batter still has time to achieve the feat.

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"Physically, he's at his peak, and his work ethic is unmatched. It's crazy to think how dominant Virat has been over such a long period, yet he still trails Sachin by 4,000 runs. That just speaks volumes about Sachin’s longevity and greatness," he added.

Ponting highlighted how Kohli thrives under pressure, especially against Pakistan, citing his latest match-winning century in the Champions Trophy 2025 as a testament to his big-match temperament.

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"Pakistan vs. India is a fixture that fires up Kohli like no other. He steps up when the team needs him the most, and we saw that again in Dubai," Ponting said.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s performance, Ponting criticized Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, stating that their inability to convert starts into big scores has cost their team a shot at the semi-finals.

"They had to step up, make match-winning runs, and they didn’t. That’s why Pakistan is now struggling to progress," Ponting remarked.

With Kohli’s hunger for records still intact, Ponting believes he is more than capable of rewriting history and cementing himself as ODI cricket’s undisputed king.

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Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, ODI Cricket, India vs Pakistan, Champions Trophy 2025, Cricket Records, Indian Cricket, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Cricket News