James Anderson, the legendary England fast bowler, has faced some of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. As he reflects on his illustrious career, two names stand out: Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. While both are titans of the game, Anderson's approach to bowling at them differed significantly, highlighting the unique challenges each presented.
Anderson has often spoken of the respect and awe he held for Sachin Tendulkar. Facing Tendulkar, especially in India, was an experience unlike any other. Tendulkar had a "God-like presence," an aura that commanded respect from fans and opponents alike. The pressure was immense, with entire stadiums seemingly hanging on every ball. Anderson admitted that he would just think that he cannot bowl a bad ball here, he was that kind of player. He was a key for India as well. If you get him out in India, the whole atmosphere, in the ground changes. He was such a big wicket,” Anderson had told Sky Sports. To dismiss him was to momentarily silence a nation, a feat that Anderson acknowledged would make him "pretty unpopular with the locals."
The key, according to Anderson, was to avoid being overwhelmed by Tendulkar's reputation. "We have to make sure we do not treat him with too much respect in the middle," he wrote in a column. He recognized that admiring Tendulkar too much could dull the competitive edge. While respecting his achievements and the way he carried himself, Anderson focused on treating him like any other batsman, trying to earn his respect back through skillful bowling.
In contrast, his battles with Virat Kohli were marked by a different kind of intensity. Anderson described Kohli as the "fiercest competitor" he had ever faced. Their encounters were often filled with verbal exchanges and visible passion. "I definitely had more verbal battles with Virat than with Sachin," Anderson noted.
Anderson revealed that he felt he was able to exploit a weakness in Kohli's technique early in his career. During India's tour of England in 2014, Anderson dismissed Kohli multiple times by targeting the area outside his off-stump. "I think I had some success early against Kohli the first time he came to England. I think it was 2014 You know, I've really exploited He had a weakness outside of stump really exploited that," Anderson said. However, Kohli is known for his adaptability, and he quickly addressed this vulnerability. The next time Anderson bowled to him, Kohli had transformed. "He'd really taken his game to a different level Made it very difficult for for not just me but for for the bowlers in general And I didn't 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. So it was You know against Sachin for example, I I didn't feel like it was that sort of shift in Dominance, I think with Kohli,” Anderson added.
Ultimately, Anderson acknowledges that Virat Kohli was tougher than Sachin Tendulkar. "I have found it more difficult to bowl to Kohli than even Sachin Tendulkar,” Anderson said. Across 36 innings, Kohli scored 305 runs off Anderson at an average of 43.57, with the England seamer dismissing him 7 times.
Despite the fierce competition, Anderson holds Kohli in high regard. Reflecting on Kohli's recent retirement from Test cricket, Anderson called him "one of the greatest Test batters that's ever been." He also acknowledged the "incredible" battles they had on the field and praised Kohli's competitive spirit.
The contrasting approaches Anderson took against Tendulkar and Kohli highlight the evolution of cricket and the different challenges posed by batsmen of different eras. With Tendulkar, it was about managing the aura and pressure, while with Kohli, it was about engaging in a fierce battle of skill and will. Both required immense skill and mental fortitude, solidifying Anderson's place as one of the game's all-time greats.
