Stats That Prove Tendulkar’s The Best

I was never Sachin Tendulkar’s biggest fan growing up (no doubt because my grandmother, a pure Tendulkar hater, reminded me again and again of the customs duties he tried to waive on some Ferrari he bought). But Outside Edge has taken a lot of time and effort to put Tendulkar’s performance in some context. Check out the many tables and charts.

This one particularly struck me. Notice the extent of Tendulkar’s contributions in the 1990s, regularly topping above 20% of the team’s total runs. Neither Ponting nor Gilchrist, no tail-enders they, could manage the same proportion, just showing off their superior outfit. (But while we’re at it, look at Pietersen’s 2004 percentage! Incredible!)

Percentage of team runs

	Tendulkar	Ponting	Pietersen	Lara	Gibbs	Gilchrist	Sehwag
1990	12%			6%
1991	17%			12%
1992	20%			22%
1993	12%			26%
1994	21%			14%
1995	20%	13%		31%
1996	25%	14%		30%	12%	4%
1997	14%	36%		23%	8%	17%
1998	30%	21%		22%	4%	15%
1999	19%	18%		13%	18%	15%
2000	17%	16%		17%	15%	14%	8%
2001	32%	22%		21%	17%	18%	13%
2002	23%	18%		20%	17%	15%	18%
2003	26%	20%		21%	19%	16%	15%
2004	17%	16%	46%	17%	10%	18%	11%
2005	11%	18%	29%	13%	23%	14%	13%
2006	20%	15%	19%	15%	15%	16%	12%
2007	19%	31%	19%	18%	20%	14%	14%
2008	17%	10%	21%		13%	14%	21%
2009	20%	13%	10%		17%		22%

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