Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar compares Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar: They love the big stage

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has drawn a comparison between the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who turns 34 today. Bangar has said that both the batters love the big stage, insisting that’s what they train for.

Bangar says both Kohli and Tendulkar love the big stage (AP)

By India Today Web Desk: Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has drawn a comparison between the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who turns 34 today. Bangar has said that both the batters love the big stage, insisting that’s what they train for.

Speaking to Star Sports, Bangar said both Kohli and Tendulkar love to perform when the eyes of the world are on them.

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“All great batsmen look up to these tournaments as marquee events in the sense that they love the big stage. They love to perform when the eyes of the world are on them. That’s what they train for. It gives them that opportunity to try and raise their game that much more. We saw that when I was playing with Sachin Tendulkar and now with Virat Kohli,” said Bangar.

Bangar continued to say Virat Kohli’s role in the team has changed since he played his first World Cup in 2011.

“In his first World Cup, in 2011, he had a role to play, but that was not the major one. After that, he is somebody on whom the team has depended quite a bit and can relate to him in terms of how India finishes in major tournaments. He is obviously one who looks forward to the World Cup and if he has played for this long, obviously all the records are going to tumble,” Bangar added.

The now 34-year-old is currently the top run-getter at the T20 World Cup, scoring 220 runs in 4 matches. The Indian batter has smashed three half-centuries in four Super-12 matches for India. Batting at a healthy strike rate of 144.73, Kohli boasts a mind-boggling average of 220 in the tournament.

With their semi-finals berth almost cemented, Kohli and co will trun their attention towards Zimbabwe, who they face at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 6.