This is the debate that has been made several times by several cricket lovers with several arguments, Virat fans often argue about statistical superiority of Virat while Sachin fans talk about friendly conditions and legendary bowlers. So, it is obvious that 2 players played in different era can’t be compare with direct stats. So, we have tried to analyze things with impact factor analysis system. A system where we calculate how much a particular player is superior to average player of his era. So, we are explaining all the databases which are as follows:
Sachin’s batting numbers at 1-3:
350 inns, 15402 runs, sr 87.61, rpi 44.01(rpi is runs per inns)
Overall players 1-3 from Sachin’s debut to retirement (18 dec 89- 18 mar 12) 489140 runs, 15834 inns, sr 72.76, rpi 30.89
Impact factor of Sachin = rpi Sachin* sr Sachin/ overall rpi* overall sr
=44.01*87.61/30.89*72.76 =3855.34/2247.68
That is 1.72 for Sachin. It means Sachin is 1.72 times superior than average batsman of his era who batted in top 3
If we do the same exercise against top 8 teams of Sachin era and leave out minnows matches, the stats would look as follows:
300 inns, 12932 runs, RPI 43.11, SR 87.03
While overall stats of players from top 8 teams while facing top 8 teams are as follows:
Runs 333960, Inns 10613, RPI 31.47, SR 72.99
Impact Factor = 43.11*87.03/31.47*72.99
=3751.57/2296.78 = 1.63
We are including these stats because in modern day cricket there are many minnow teams compared to 90s & 2000s. So players from those if get included their stats deflate the average top 3 stats which you will be able to see later.
If we do the same exercise but only for those matches in which Sachin played, stats would be as follows:
Matches involving Sachin at 1-3 aggregate 94561 runs, 2729 inns, rpi 34.65 sr 76.06
So, we derive the impact factor with same method as above:
=44.01*87.61/34.65*76.06 = 3855.34/2635.51
Impact factor of Sachin is 1.463 for matches that involve Sachin
We have included these stats because there is often an argument that Indian pitches are more batting friendly compare to other pitches, so we considered only those matches which India played Sachin and we will do the same with Virat later.
Now we do the same process with Virat’s statistics
Virat’s stats at 1-3 are as follows:
214 inns, 10854 runs, rpi 50.72, sr 94.23
While overall numbers at 1-3 from 18 aug 08 till date are as follows:
351794 runs, 10444 inns, rpi 33.68, sr 81.81
If we calculate Virat’s impact factor with same method it is as follows:
=50.72*94.23 /33.68*81.81
=4779.31/2755.67 = 1.73
So, Impact factor of VK 1.73 which is neck to neck with Sachin but his career size is less than 2/3rd of Sachin
If we do the same exercise against top 8 teams of Virat era and leave out minnows matches, the stats would look as follows:
Inns 171, Runs 8580, RPI 50.18, SR 93.40
While overall stats of players from top 8 teams while facing top 8 teams are as follows:
Runs 185578, Inns 5103, RPI 36.31, SR 85.51
As we mentioned above how leaving out minnows batters have inflated the average of present era
Impact Factor = 50.18*93.40/ 36.31*85.51
=4686.89/3109.70 = 1.50
This is considerably lower than Sachin’s impact factor 1.63
Now we consider only those matches which involve Virat and those stats are as follows:
At 1-3 aggregate 63700 runs, 1606 inns, rpi 39.66, sr 87.65
Now we again calculate impact factor with same method
=50.72*94.23/39.66*89.65
=4779.31/3476.53 = 1.38
Impact factor for VK 1.38 which is lower than Sachin by some margin despite the fact that career size of Virat is less than 2/3rd of Sachin
Now we apply another method where we compare a player with top players of his era rather than average players of his era. So, we derive players with top 15 averages with minimum 3000 runs in their respective eras
Players with Top 15 batting avg at 1-3 for Sachin era aggregate (excluding Sachin) 93991 runs, 2418 inns, rpi 38.87, sr 78.53 (Min 3000 runs)
Sachin’s superiority factor vs top 15 of his era:
=44.01*87.61/38.87*78.53
=3855.34/3052.47 =1.26
Players with top 15 batting avg min 3000 runs in Virat era aggregate (excluding Virat) 77498 runs, 1701 inns, sr 89.01, rpi 45.56
VK superiority factor vs top 15 of his era:
=50.72*94.23/45.56*89.01
=4779.57*4055.35 =1.18
So with all the above calculations we can conclude that Sachin leads Virat in 3 out of 4 criteria by some margin and Virat leads very narrowly in 1 criteria. So, Virat fans need to realize that 2 players in different era can’t be compared with direct stats. And above impact factor analysis is not even considering Sachin’s longevity of 24 years which is simply unmatched. So this is how we conclude that Sachin is better than Virat in ODI cricket as he is ahead of VK in 3 out of 4 situations. If you still don’t agree with it we respect your opinion.
