Pitting Virat Kohli against Joe Root, a statistical comparison
As per the new ICC Test Rankings England's captain Joe Root is placed at the second spot and Virat Kohli is ranked number 5. If we compare their batting averages, Root has a Test average of 53.27, while Kohli averages at 49.63. Does this make the English man the better batsman? It is only half the story. Read on to find the rest.
Root leads Kohli in Test numbers
Apart from better batting average, Joe Root also has more runs, more 50s, and a better highest score than Kohli, after 56 matches. On the other hand, Kohli has more centuries, 17 against Root's 12, and double tons, having played 59 matches. Both have almost similar strike rate hovering around 56. So far as the data from Tests go, Joe Root comes on top.
Performance against big teams
Interestingly, Kohli has better test average than Root against some big teams. Against Australia, Kohli has an average of 50.85 over Root's 41.29. He averages 66.82 against Kiwis, while Root is at 39.54. Root's (57.38) performance against South Africa though is better than Kohli's (47.20).
In ODIs and T20s, it's a whole different story
When it comes to shorter formats of cricket, Kohli is the clear winner occupying top spot in ODI and T20I rankings. With batting averages of 54.68 and 53 in ODIs and T20Is respectively, Kohli eclipses Root's 49.37 and 40.33. Root has done slightly better with an average of 42.55 while playing India in ODIs as opposed to Kohli's 41.86 against England.
A look at ODI runs and centuries
With Root playing 97 ODI matches less than Kohli, it would be unfair to directly compare the number of runs and centuries. In 189 matches, Virat scored 8257 runs, 28 centuries, and 43 half centuries. Joe Root, in 92 matches, scored 3802 runs, 10 centuries and 22 half centuries. Virat's has the highest score of 183 and Root's best score is 133.
Head to head
Both Kohli and Root are at the top of their game doing well for their teams. Between the both of them, Kohli has proved himself better in the shorter formats while Root comparatively fares better in the Test format. We sit back and enjoy cricket as the two batsmen play their way to brilliance.
