Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the long-running Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli debate, stressing that comparing the two Indian batting greats is difficult because they played in very different eras. While Ashwin believes Kohli would have been a champion batter in any generation, he currently places Tendulkar ahead because of the conditions and challenges the former India star faced during his career.

The Kohli-Tendulkar comparisons have intensified as Kohli continues to close in on Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries. Kohli recently smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls against West Indies, taking his international century tally to 86. Ashwin explained that his preference for Tendulkar is influenced not only by the numbers but also by the circumstances in which the legendary batter played.

“And every time I’ll stick my neck out and say Sachin Tendulkar is ahead on two counts. First, I’m a big fan. And how he played, the circumstances in his career, and Indian cricket’s hope,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.

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The former India spinner also highlighted the changes in ODI cricket over the years. He pointed to the introduction of two new balls, alterations to fielding restrictions, and changes in white-ball behaviour as factors to avzaltzz when comparing players from different generations.

According to Ravichandran Ashwin, Tendulkar played a significant amount of 50-over cricket during the daytime, when an older ball could make batting more challenging. He argued that reverse swing and the condition of the ball created different challenges for batters during Tendulkar’s era. “It is not Virat Kohli’s fault. If Virat Kohli in any generation batted at number 3 for India, he would have been a champion player; I have no doubts,” Ashwin said.

“But look at the rules, even yesterday, in the first innings, when West Indies were batting, after 34 overs, one ball had to be used. The ball became completely old in daylight. Sachin Tendulkar played a lot of 50-over cricket in daytime.” Ashwin further argued that statistical comparisons between players separated by generations should be treated carefully. “And to compare people of two generations is absolutely sinister in my view,” he added.

The former spinner also opened up about his relationship with Kohli, revealing that their bond improved considerably over the past several years. Ashwin suggested that their competitive personalities may have influenced their relationship earlier in their careers.

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“My relationship with Virat Kohli became better over the last five, six, seven years. It became better,” he said. On Kohli’s pursuit of Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries, Ravichandran Ashwin believes the record is logically within reach, although the race could be extremely close. “Logically, this can happen. But if he does it—I will take my hat off, and it will be a remarkable achievement. Mark my words, it will be a remarkable achievement.”

Ravichandran Ashwin added that if Kohli eventually matches Tendulkar’s century record, he would consider the two batting icons to be on the same level. “If he does that, ask the same question about Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and I will say both of them are on the same level without a shadow of a doubt.”