Sachin Tendulkar vs Ricky Ponting are two of cricket’s greatest legends, often compared for their achievements. Tendulkar, born on April 24, 1973, played for India, while Ponting, born on December 19, 1974, represented Australia. Both had long, successful careers and are known for their leadership and consistency.
Let’s look at their stats across Test matches, ODIs, IPL, and T20Is to compare them.
Full Name
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Ricky Thomas Ponting
Birth Date
24 April 1973
19 December 1974
Age
51
49
Birth Country
India
Australia
Team
India
Australia
Batting Stats
T20 International (T20I)
Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting had different experiences in T20I cricket. Tendulkar only played one T20I match, scoring 10 runs, while Ponting played 17 matches, scoring 401 runs at an average of 28.64. Although T20Is were not their primary format, Ponting showed better performances in this format, hitting two half-centuries.
Player
Matches
Runs
Highest Score
Average
Strike Rate
100s
50s
Sachin Tendulkar
1
10
10
10.00
83.33
0
0
Ricky Ponting
17
401
98
28.64
132.78
0
2
One Day International (ODI)
Both Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting made significant impacts in ODI cricket. Tendulkar played 161 matches since 2003, scoring 6882 runs, with an impressive double century as his highest score. He had a remarkable average of 45.88. On the other hand, Ponting scored 8004 runs in 218 matches with an average of 41.90. Ponting was known for his consistency, while Tendulkar’s ability to score big hundreds made him a standout in this format.
In the IPL, Tendulkar had much more success compared to Ponting. Sachin scored 2334 runs in 78 matches with an average of 34.83, even scoring a century in the tournament. Ponting, however, played only 10 matches, scoring 91 runs at an average of 10.11. While Tendulkar became a key player in IPL, Ponting’s contributions were limited due to his short stint in the league.
Player
Matches
Runs
Highest Score
Average
Strike Rate
100s
50s
Sachin Tendulkar
78
2334
100
34.83
119.81
1
13
Ricky Ponting
10
91
28
10.11
71.09
0
0
Test Matches
In Test cricket, both players are legends. Sachin Tendulkar scored 7110 runs in 170 matches since 2003, with a highest score of 248 and an average of 49.72. Ponting outshone Tendulkar in terms of runs and averages during the same period, with 9132 runs at an average of 53.40. Both players had the ability to play long innings, but Ponting’s slightly better average shows his consistency in the longest format of the game.
Player
Matches
Runs
Highest Score
Average
Strike Rate
100s
50s
Sachin Tendulkar
170
7110
248
49.72
53.34
16
33
Ricky Ponting
194
9132
257
53.40
59.32
21
45
Bowling Stats
T20 International (T20I)
Tendulkar bowled in one T20I match, taking 1 wicket. Ponting, on the other hand, did not bowl in his 17 matches. Tendulkar’s contribution with the ball was minimal in this format.
Player
Matches
Wickets
Economy
Sachin Tendulkar
1
1
6.29
Ricky Ponting
17
0
–
One Day International (ODI)
In ODI bowling, Tendulkar was more active, taking 45 wickets in 158 matches. Ponting did not bowl in ODIs during this period. Tendulkar’s economy rate of 5.76 shows he was reliable with the ball when needed.
Player
Matches
Wickets
Economy
Sachin Tendulkar
158
45
5.76
Ricky Ponting
215
0
–
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Tendulkar bowled sparingly in the IPL, taking no wickets in his 5 innings as a bowler. Ponting did not bowl in the IPL at all.
Player
Matches
Wickets
Economy
Sachin Tendulkar
78
0
9.30
Ricky Ponting
10
0
–
Test Matches
In Test cricket, Tendulkar and Ponting were part-time bowlers. Tendulkar took 19 wickets in 136 matches, while Ponting took only 1 wicket in 118 matches. Tendulkar’s economy of 4.33 shows he could bowl useful overs when required.
Player
Matches
Wickets
Economy
Sachin Tendulkar
136
19
4.33
Ricky Ponting
118
1
3.12
Conclusion
Both Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting are legends of cricket, with outstanding records in different formats. Tendulkar is known for his unmatched skill and longevity, while Ponting was one of the most dominant batsmen of his era. Comparing these two great players shows that both contributed immensely to their teams in different ways, making them unforgettable names in cricket history.