Who's in your top six if the batsman who holds the records for most runs and hundreds in Tests and ODIs, and most international runs. First man to score a Double hundred in ODI's averages 54 in nearly 200 test matches, and 44 in 463 Odi matches. Made his first test hundred at 17 years old and has carried the weight of a billion people for years with very little complaining.
Overrated!!!! Seriously!!!!
What else would he need to do to be rated?
Did I at any point say he wasn't up there? No
I do however think that as we all talk about Indian wickets being easy to score bigger runs on, some very weak teams to score runs against etc that maybe (and I have no interest in looking up his record against Bang etc) some of these runs when coupled with the demise of bowling over teh last 10 to 15 years and the advent of helmets, bats etc has maybe inflated his stats a little. I'd venture he's still up there but for me he's not 'the greatest batsmen ever as some proclaim him to be'. He's a modern great of that there is no doubt, however when (for me) put up against Richards, Ponting (in his prime), Sir Viv, Lara, Sobers, Kallis (given he bowls too which has meant he's had more injuries and as we know being an all rounder is harder on the mind/body so probably costs him a few runs over the years), I'd say he's just behind.
If we did a 'last 15/20 years select xi' he'd easily slot in at number 4 without a doubt. Plus, it's all personal opinion remember as there is no right or wrong answer