Sachin Tendulkar vs Vinod Kambli.

While Vinod Kambli had exceptional raw talent and a phenomenal start to his career, Sachin Tendulkar is widely considered the better overall player due to his longevity, consistency, discipline, and record-breaking achievements over a career spanning nearly 24 years. 

Vinod Kambli: 

The Talented Starter

Kambli's early career was spectacular, marked by immediate success that led many contemporary experts, including coach Ramakant Achrekar, to believe he was initially the more talented of the two childhood friends. 

• Exceptional Start: He was the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone in just 14 innings.
• Big Scores Early: He is the only player to score two consecutive Test double centuries in his first four Tests, and his career Test batting average of 54.20 remains the highest for an Indian batsman with more than 20 Test innings.
• Natural Ability: He was a flamboyant left-handed batsman with an aggressive style and a wide array of shots. 

Sachin Tendulkar: 

The Long-Distance Champion

Tendulkar had a relatively slower start to his international career compared to Kambli's initial burst but developed into one of the greatest cricketers of all time. 

• Longevity and Consistency:Tendulkar played for India for nearly a quarter of a century (24 years), maintaining elite performance and adapting his game across different conditions and eras.
• Unmatched Records: He holds the record for most runs in both Test and ODI cricket and is the only player to have scored 100 international centuries.
• Discipline and Work Ethic: The key difference noted by legends like Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid was Tendulkar's unwavering discipline, focus, and dedication to constantly improve his game and overcome weaknesses, such as his initial vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, a flaw Kambli struggled to rectify. 

Conclusion

Kambli's career faded early due to a combination of technical struggles (specifically against the short ball), off-field distractions, and a lack of consistent discipline, playing his last Test at just 23. Tendulkar, by contrast, married his immense talent with an exemplary work ethic and mental toughness, allowing him to sustained excellence for over two decades and achieve legendary status in the world of cricket.

Source: Google.