Former India fast bowler Dodda Ganesh has taken a cheeky dig at South African legend AB de Villiers after the latter placed Virat Kohli ahead of Sachin Tendulkar when discussing their performances in challenging overseas Test conditions. The comparison has reopened one of cricket’s most enduring debates. While Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game, Kohli has also built a formidable reputation, particularly for his performances in demanding conditions outside India.
De Villiers recently argued that Tendulkar was the player who first demonstrated that Indian batters could thrive on bouncy and seam-friendly pitches, but felt Kohli subsequently pushed that standard even higher.
Dodda Ganesh responds to AB de Villiers with a brutal one-liner
Ganesh did not appear particularly impressed by De Villiers’ assessment. Taking to X to react to the former South Africa batter’s comments, the ex-India pacer responded with just five words.
“Pass on the weed, brother,” Ganesh wrote.
The sarcastic remark quickly attracted attention online, largely because of the enormous stature of the two Indian batting icons involved in the debate.
The exchange also carries an interesting layer given De Villiers’ close relationship with Kohli. The pair spent several seasons together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and have often spoken warmly about their friendship and mutual respect. Ganesh’s response, therefore, was viewed as a playful but pointed disagreement with De Villiers rather than simply another statistical comparison between two legendary batters.
Pass on the weed, brother. https://t.co/3XOy6o6x9t
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) August 20, 2026
De Villiers on why he rated Virat Kohli higher than Sachin Tendulkar
De Villiers made his comments while discussing the development of Indian batting and the way players from the subcontinent have adapted to difficult overseas conditions. According to the South African great, Tendulkar deserves credit for being among the first Indian batters to show that success was possible against quality fast bowling on pitches offering pace, bounce and movement.
However, De Villiers believes Kohli took that blueprint further and established an even higher benchmark. His argument was essentially that Tendulkar opened the door for Indian batters to succeed outside familiar conditions, while Kohli continued that progression with his own consistency and intensity. That assessment is certain to divide fans, particularly those who grew up watching Tendulkar dominate some of the world’s finest attacks during an era when Test cricket featured several legendary fast bowlers.
