Cricket
Is Anyone Better Than Virat Kohli in Cricket?
Virat Kohli hasn’t hung up his bat just yet. Nevertheless, he is a cricketing great in much the same way Sachin Tendulkar was during his heyday.
Virat Kohli interacts with MS Dhoni//Getty Images
The numbers that Kohli has posted so far during his career, as you will see, are simply outstanding. A global phenomenon, he has generated similar levels of adulation that LeBron James has done for basketball and Cristiano Ronaldo has had on football, with the latter rewriting the records books in the process.
There are a few players that have been spoken of in the same breath as Kohli, namely Babar Azam, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni. The purpose of this guide is to shine a light on their achievements, crunch the numbers, and assess their respective impacts to see if they can emulate, if not surpass Kohli.
Virat Kohli: The Benchmark
Virat Kohli’s career to date has been underpinned by some incredible numbers and he is a run machine. Year after year, he just seems to get better and he’s an iconic figure. For example, in 2022, he clocked up 1,348 runs from 37 matches at an average of 38.51. Whereas the following year, his average shot up to 66.68, having racked up 1934 runs.
Flicked shots behind deep square leg and beautiful cover drives are the hallmarks of Kohli’s game, but he has always led from the front.
Kohli’s CV is impressive as captain. He led India to victory in a Test series away to Australia in 2018/19, making them the first Asian side to win a Test series Down Under. Not only that, but he guided India to the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017, the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup and the 2021 ICC Test Championship final.
As a player, Kohli has won practically everything in the game, and that included the 2011 World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Below, we have illustrated his numbers with the bat across all formats.
Record
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s/50s | Strike Rate |
| Test | 123 | 9230 | 46.85 | 30/31 | 55.57 |
| ODI | 295 | 13906 | 58.18 | 50/72 | 93.54 |
| T20I | 125 | 4188 | 48.69 | 1/38 | 137.04 |
Comparison with Babar Azam
Let’s now bring Babar Azam’s career stats into the mix. Azam, who was the fastest to 10,000 runs in domestic T20s, maybe 30, but he’s still got plenty of mileage left on the clock.
Technically gifted, Azam, who is stylish on the eye, broke a record held by Pakistan legend Imran Khan in 2022 by scoring the most runs (196) in an individual Test innings against Australia as captain. But he is ahead of Kohli in the all-time list of T20 top run scorers (4,223), and he hit hundreds in three consecutive ODI innings.
Azam may be younger compared to Kohli, but if he keeps going at the rate he has been going, he could well end up surpassing some of Kohli’s scoring feats. We have drawn up a table showing how Azam and Kohli’s numbers stack up against each other across all formats.
Babar Azam and Virat Kohli//Getty Images
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam
| Player | Test/ODIs/T20s Matches | Tests/ODIs/T20Is Runs | Tests/ODIs/T20Is Average | 100s (Tests/ODIs/T20Is) |
| Virat Kohli | 123/295/125 | 9230/13906/4188 | 46.85/58.18/48.69 | 30/50/1 |
| Babar Azam | 57/123/57 | 4190/5957/4223 | 44.10/56.73/39.83 | 9/19/3 |
Analysis
It almost seems unfair to compare the two given the smaller sample size available for Azam. That said, Azam is climbing the ranks, and he has the upper hand on Kohli for T20Is, more specifically when it comes to scoring centuries.
Azam has scored two more centuries in T20Is, and while Kohli’s averages are better across all formats, Azam is making up ground. It will be fascinating to see his trajectory over the next few years.
Comparison with Rohit Sharma
As team-mates, it is always exciting to compare two Indian legends. Rohit Sharma’s an ODI expert, and he has three double centuries to his name.
Clearly, Sharma has a knack for converting big scores into monster innings, but like Kohli, he has the game style that makes him perfectly suited to the shorter formats. We’ve run through Sharma’s and Kohli’s numbers across all formats in our table.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma//Getty Images
Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma
| Player | ODI matches | T20I Matches | ODI Runs/100s/Avg | T20Is Runs/100s/Avg |
| 295 | 125 | 13906/50/58.18 | 4188/1/48.69 | |
| Rohit Sharma | 265 | 159 | 10866/31/49.16 | 4231/5/32.05 |
Analysis
Across ODIs and T20Is, Sharma seems to have the match temperament, and his numbers fare well against Kohli, so that is a positive.
However, Sharma falls short in Tests. Kohli has more than doubled (9230) Sharma’s tally of runs (4301). It seems that Sharma lacks the discipline in Tests in terms of whether to go for runs or occupy the crease for longer periods of time. Sharma still plenty to do to prove his Test critics wrong.
Comparisons with MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni’s captaincy record speaks volumes. One of India’s greatest captains, Dhoni steered India to glory in the T20 World Cup in 2017, the ODI World Cup crown in 2011, and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013.
Over time, Dhoni proved himself to be a top finisher, but his longevity counts for something. Dhoni continues to play in the IPL at the grand old age of 43.
Like Kohli, he was able to deliver under pressure during his international career, and he was formidable in the ODIs, boasting a 58.82% win record in ODIs. We’ve compared Kohli’s and Dhoni’s figures across all formats.
Virat Kohli vs MS Dhoni
| Player | Matches as Captain (Tests/ODIs/T20s | Wins (Tests/ODIs/T20s) | Major Trophies Won |
| Virat Kohli | 213 | 40/65/30 | 3 |
| MS Dhoni | 332 | 27/110/41 | 3 |
Analysis
India have won many trophies under Dhoni and Kohli. Looking at the cold batting stats, Kohli’s numbers are more impressive than that of Dhoni across all formats.
For example, Kohli scored over 9,000 runs at Test level at an average of 46.85, while Dhoni managed 4,876 runs with an average a touch above 38.
Dhoni captained India more times at senior level, and his longevity underlines the impact he had on the team. The pair had a brilliant relationship, with Kohli given a leadership role as vice-captain during the Dhoni era. Kohli picked up the baton from Dhoni, but Dhoni set the foundations for India’s success.
Impact Beyond Numbers
Sometimes, it is best to look beyond the numbers to assess the true impact that Kohli has had in relation to those that have been spoken of in the same breath.
Kohli is characterised for his aggressive mindset, but he is known for his strict fitness regime. He set the benchmark for fitness levels with a strict five-day workout as well as diet. In many respects, Kohli was the game-changer.
Sharma, meanwhile, played a big role in India’s dominance in limited-overs cricket, and he is one of the best ODI batters of all time. Similarly, Dhoni made a big impact at ODI level, but his calm demeanour and ability to think under pressure has always made him a giant in the game.
To a certain extent, Azam represents the new generation, and he resigned as Pakistan’s white-ball captain for the second time in October 2024 to focus on his batting. He has been an inspiration for the younger players in the Pakistan squad, and he still offers a lot to the side.
Conclusion
Virat Kohli may be nearing the end of his career, but it has been a decorated one underlined with incredible achievements. He will leave an incredible legacy that goes beyond the pure numbers when he eventually departs the game.
The likes of Dhoni, Sharma, and Azam are gentlemen of the game, and they have had an amazing impact on their national teams. More often than not, comparisons can be tough, and they are largely influenced by different roles and eras. With the latter, some teams will have found it harder to break through the glass ceiling depending on the sides they have faced.
However, it’s fair to assert that few can hold a torch to Kohli who has ripped up the record books and his interest in the game remains undimmed.
But do you agree with us? Who do you think is the best among them?
FAQs
Overall, Kohli is better than Sharma when it comes to batting stats. Sharma may have scored runs at T20Is, but Kohli has been more formidable at Test and ODI level, and he is one of the greatest batters of all time.
Kholi has been more prolific across all formats than Dhoni. Indeed, Kohli has 81 centuries to his name, while Dhoni has managed just 16.
Charles Perrin is a highly experienced sports betting content writer with over six years of working with some of the leading sportsbooks in the UK, including bet365 and William Hill.