Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: A fascinating comparison ODI Greats

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma brings interesting results as we compare the two modern era ODI greats under different scenarios.

It is no doubt that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are two of the greatest ODI players of this era. While Virat Kohli is the most consistent batsman in the world, Rohit Sharma’s hunger for big games separates him from others.

It was back in 2008 when these two gentlemen started playing ODI cricket with Rohit coming into the scene a little earlier. But, with the amount of talent Rohit Sharma had, he never got going while playing in the middle-order, and was later dropped.

It was only in 2013 that turned the fortunes for Rohit when MS Dhoni decided to open with him regularly in ODIs. Since then, Rohit has never looked back, and turned himself into one of the best.

Meanwhile, the current India Cricket Team captain, Virat Kohli started as a middle-order batsman. It was only after World Cup 2011, he became a regular number 3 in ODIs. During his 11 years tenure, Virat never had a lull period, and has reached heights that are unimaginable.

So, wouldn’t it be interesting If we keep the performance of these modern-era ODI greats, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma side by side?. It would definitely make for a fantastic statistical comparison by comparing them under different scenarios.

However, to make a fair comparison, we would only consider stats when these two players played in the Top-order (Position 1-3). 

Right then, let’s not waste any time, and straight away get to the most exciting comparison of this decade.

AT HOME

Rohit Sharma has had tremendous success batting at home where he has scored 3 double-centuries; a feat no player has achieved.

Overall at home, Rohit has scored 2595 runs from 44 innings at an average of 66.53, and a strike rate of 103.8 with 9 centuries and 10 half-centuries. While his consistency is good at 46.51%, it is his low scores percentage of 44.19% that is worrying. That means, he either scores heavily or gets out cheaply. 

Virat Kohli too has been at par with his performance at home accounting for 3287 runs from 56 innings at an average of 68.47, and a strike rate of 99.48 with 15 centuries and 14 half-centuries. With a consistency of 57.14% and a low scores percentage of just 26.79%, Virat Kohli’s numbers look sublime. 

So, at home, Rohit Sharma may have the big scores, he falls behind Kohli on account of average, consistency, and low scores percentage. 

AWAY FROM HOME

Away from home, Rohit Sharma has been good once again accounting for 4244 runs from 97 innings at an average of  49.24, and a Strike rate of 84.96 with 16 centuries and 20 half-centuries. His consistency is slightly lower at 43.3%, while his low scores percentage is slightly better at 36.08%. 

Virat  Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 6294 runs from 127 innings at an average of 59.94, and a Strike rate of 90.86 with 21 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His consistency is not bad either with 52.38%, and his low scores percentage stands at 28.57%. 

So, away from home, Virat Kohli tends to maintain his overall performance, while Rohit Sharma’s strike rate takes a slight dip, but his overall performance remains intact. 

IN SENA COUNTRIES:

Batting in SENA countries is always a fascinating task. While the pitches these days tend to favor the batsmen more, they still possess a challenge for the top-order batsmen with more swinging conditions upfront. Rohit Sharma has been excellent in England and Australia with an average of above 65, consistency of above 60%, and a low scores percentage of just around 30% in both the countries.

However, his performance takes a dip in New Zealand and South Africa with an average of 21 in SA and 33 in NZ. His consistency falls dramatically to 9% in SA and 33% in NZ. An area he would like to improve drastically. 

Virat Kohli, meanwhile, is excellent in SA, ENG, and NZ with an average of 87, 59 and 58 respectively, and consistency of 54, 64, and 70 respectively. It is only Australia where he averages below 50 (48.31 to be precise). His low scores percentage of 35% in Australia is also too high as compared to his overall performance. 

So, in SENA, Rohit has been better in England and Australia, while Virat has been better in South Africa and New Zealand. 

ICC TOURNAMENTS: 

ICC tournaments such as ICC World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy showcase a player’s true value. So, how have both fared in this scenario?

Rohit Sharma has done superbly in ICC tournaments scoring 1459 runs from 27 innings at an average of 60.79, and a Strike rate of 91.07 with 7 centuries and 7 half-centuries. His consistency stands at 51.85%, and a low-scores percentage is just 29.63%.

These are way better than his overall numbers. Also, not to forget, Rohit Sharma has 7 centuries to his name of which 5 centuries came in World Cup 2019; the most by any batsman in a World Cup.

Virat Kohli too is good in ICC Tournaments scoring 1241 runs from 28 innings at an average of 62.05, and a Strike rate of 90.84 with 1 century and 10 half-centuries. His consistency stands at solid 60.71, and his low scores percentage is just 17.86.

These are superb numbers too, however, his conversion ratio from 50 to 100 is horrible with 11.11%, while for Rohit Sharma, it is 50%.

So, in ICC Tournaments, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are neck and neck with Virat Kohli being a consistent performer, while Rohit Sharma being a match-winner.

DURING CHASES:

During chases, Virat Kohli has taken his game to another level. He has scored 5662 runs from 108 innings at an average of 69.04, and a strike rate of 94.57 with 21 centuries and 26 half-centuries. His consistency is solid at 55.14%, and his low scores percentage is just 26.17%.

While chasing, Virat has given n number of superb performances. Be it his highest score of 183 against Pakistan, his mind-boggling knock of 115(66) against Australia, or his 100(52) once again against Australia.

Rohit isn’t far behind either scoring 3645 runs from 83 innings at an average of 52.07, and a strike rate of 87.97 with 12 centuries and 19 half-centuries. His consistency stands at 43.9%, and his low scores percentage is 35.37%.

While Rohit Sharma is good, Virat Kohli is a class apart when it comes to chases, and he is rightly called as the ‘Chase Master’.

KNOCK-OUT MATCHES 

The performance under extreme pressure conditions of Quarter finals, semi-finals, and finals tend to bring the best out of Rohit Sharma, and he has bettered Virat Kohli in this area. 

Rohit Sharma has scored 467 runs from 10 innings at an average of 51.88, and a Strike rate of 85.68 with 2 centuries and 1 half-century. His consistency stands at 40%, and his low scores percentage is good at 30%.

While Virat Kohli has been horrible scoring 276 runs from 11 innings at an average of just 30.66 with just 2 half-centuries. His consistency is just 27.27%, and his low scores percentage is a horrible 54.55%.

While Virat Kohli is excellent in the T20 format in Knockouts, he couldn’t replicate the same in 50 overs format. This is one area in which the entire country wants Kohli to do well. Luckily for him, he has the 2023 World Cup to wash his sins, and help bring the cup home at home. 

WIN CONTRIBUTION: 

A win contribution shows a player’s ability to not just score runs heavily, but also contribute to the team’s winning cause. So, how have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli contributed to the team’s winning cause? 

Rohit Sharma has exceeded his overall performance with 4959 runs from 89 innings at an average of 66.12, and a Strike rate of 93.68 with 19 centuries and 21 half-centuries. His consistency stands at 50.56%, and his low scores percentage stands at 31.46%.

However, Virat Kohli’s numbers in winning causes look exceptional. Overall, he has scored 6844 runs from 114 innings at a stunning average of 78.66, and a Strike rate of 96.34 with 29 centuries and 27 half-centuries. His consistency stands at a solid 61.06, and his low scores percentage is just 17.70.

While Rohit Sharma is excellent, Virat Kohli is exceptional when it comes to contributing in a winning cause.

CONCLUSION:

Concluding the analysis, Virat Kohli has been superb in almost all the scenarios except for his performance in the Knockout stages of the tournament, where he has been mediocre. Meanwhile, Rohit too has been good, but slightly below par as compared to Virat Kohli. However, It is his performance in the Knockouts that differentiates him from Virat Kohli.

Overall, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are the greatest of this generation, and certainly one of the best as compared to the legends of the game. We hope you have liked the overall analysis of Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma. Please, let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: A comparison of a lifetime in Tests

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.