Virat Kohli Insults Sachin Tendulkar? England Spinners Pick Best-Ever ODI Player

The England spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, during a recent podcast, selected the best-ever ODI player in world cricket among Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara. They were playing the popular ‘Start, Bench, Sell’ game, which is quite famous among football fans and players.

In this game, the individuals are given the names of three players and are asked to select one of them in the playing eleven, one to sell, and the rest to the bench. Both Ali and Rashid tried to go through the game as they received a very tough question in selecting the best ODI batter.

Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid pick Virat Kohli as the best ODI batters

In a recent podcast between the two England spinners, the host offered them three notable players’ names- Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara. He asked to play, sell, and bench the players.

“What format are we talking about?” Ali asked rapidly.

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Adil Rashid, the leg spinner, showed no hesitation in picking Kohli over Tendulkar as the best ODI batter. He felt that in comparison to both the right-handed batters, Kohli would be ahead with more centuries overall and in chasing.

“If it’s 50-overs, we both are going to start with Virat Kohli. The reason we say Virat is that he has proven himself and done that for 15 years. If we compare both of them (Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar), then who has got more hundreds in ODI cricket? Virat Kohli, right? He has got so many hundreds in chasing.” Rashid mentioned.

Moeen was not confirmed to go with Virat at the start, but later went with the same. He benched Lara despite the former West Indies captain being his favorite player in the past.

“But there is Sachin and Lara. Hold on!! Tendulkar has done and proven it for over 15 years. If you compare between them, then we have to start with Kohli. Lara is one of my favorite players, but I am benching him, and I am selling Sachin.”

Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara’s ODI record

Sachin Tendulkar, who played the 50-over format over 24 overs, is the leading run-getter of the format with 18426 runs. The Mumbai-born carried an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.23, scoring 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries, thanks to the best score of an unbeaten 200 runs.

Kohli is third on the list with 14181 runs in 290 ODI innings at an average of 57.88. He has smashed the runs at a high strike rate of 93.54, thanks to 51 centuries, which is the most by any batter in this format’s history, and 74 fifties at the best score of 183.

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West Indies’ Brian Lara is 14th on the list with 10405 runs in 289 innings at an average of 40.48. The southpaw has a strike rate of around 80, having on 19 centuries and 63 half-centuries.

Start, Bench, Sell ft. Virat Kohli, Sachin & Lara.

Adil Rashid - I will start with Virat Kohli. He has most Centuries in odis & been excellent in chasing

Mooen Ali - I will start with Kohli too

💥💥 pic.twitter.com/98wtXVPzjP

— S P Y (@Kohli_Spy) April 15, 2025

Virat Kohli is in top form for RCB in IPL 2025

Virat has been in tremendous touch in IPL 2025 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The former captain of the side is the fifth overall and the franchise’s leading run-getter of the season.

He has smacked 248 runs in six innings at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 143.35, shouldering on three centuries at the best score of 67. Bengaluru, with four wins in six encounters, is enjoying at third position on the points table with a net run rate of +0.672.