Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are considered to be all-time great batters among some most elite names in the sport who have a plethora of records to their name.
Tendulkar retired from the game with over 18000 ODI runs and 15000 plus runs in Test matches. He played 443 ODIs and 200 Tests with a combined 100 centuries as well, being the only batter to play 200 Tests and hit 100 centuries in international cricket.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli has over 25,000 runs in international cricket at 34 years old and has 76 centuries in international cricket. He is just 4 centuries shy of breaking Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons.
However, one thing that both also loved doing was bowling, Tendulkar, more than Kohli.
The ‘Little Master’ finished his career for India with 201 international wickets with 154 of them coming in ODIs with two fifers. Interestingly enough, when it comes to Virat Kohli, the batter and orthodox medium pacer took a wicket off his 0th delivery in international cricket which stands as the most unique record to date. Besides, he also has 4 ODI and 4 T20I wickets to his name. Hence, fans often wonder who are the batters who have been dismissed by both the greats of the game.
Here are 3 batters dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in international cricket:
3. Kevin Pietersen
Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar dismissed Kevin Pietersen in a Test match in 2007 during India’s tour of England. The incident happened during the third Test of the series at the Oval. Pietersen was batting on 41 runs when captain Rahul Dravid brought on Tendulkar to turn his arm over.
In the process, Tendulkar bowled a leg-break around off-stump and Pietersen tried to play an expansive drive, only managed to edge the ball to slips where Dravid took an easy catch.
On the 2011 England tour of India, both the sides clashed in the only T20I match and Pietersen was looking dangerous as he had scored 33 runs. MS Dhoni brought on Virat Kohli to have a go with the ball and on his first delivery in international T20 cricket, Kohli dismissed Pietersen. Notably,
Kohli bowled a wide delivery full on the leg side and the England batter trying to flick it, moved out of his crease, which was enough for MS Dhoni to whip the bails off. Consequently, Kohli became the only bowler in T20I history to take a wicket off his 0th delivery.
2. Brendon McCullum
McCullum and Sachin (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar during a Test in 2009 on India’s tour of New Zealand which was played in Wellington. McCullum got just 6 runs in New Zealand’s second innings of the aforementioned Test match before being given out caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip, off a big-spinning leg break.
During the 2014 India tour of New Zealand, McCullum was dismissed by Virat Kohli during the fifth ODI in Wellington. The Kiwi captain had made 23 runs in 18 balls before Kohli foxed him with a slowish delivery, which McCullum chipped to Rohit Sharma at cover.
1. Mohammad Hafeez
Sachin Tendulkar (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sachin Tendulkar dismissed Mohammad Hafeez during the first ODI of the Pakistan tour of India in 2005. The match was played in Kochi and saw India batting first, thereby putting up 281/8 in 50 overs with Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid hitting centuries. While defending the target, Laxmipathy Balaji gave India a good start. But Inzamam Ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez stabilized the innings with decent knocks in the middle order.
To the opponent’s surprise, skipper Sourav Ganguly brought on Tendulkar to get the much-needed breakthrough for team India. Much to Ganguly’s delight, the willy bowler in Tendulakr, dismissed both the batters with Hafeez falling for 42 runs and the legendary Indian cricketer finished with 5/50.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli dismissed Mohammad Hafeez in a T20I which was played in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Colombo. The Pakistani opener, who had already scored 15 runs, was dismissed while attempting to clear space to play a delivery that was bowled outside leg stump to the off-side.
Pakistan made 128 in 19.4 overs, which India overhauled in 17 overs with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 78 and India winning the match convincingly by 8 wickets.