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Joe Root v Virat Kohli

listento_me

U19 Captain
So, both these young, supposedly great batsmen are playing their 50th test together. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get us talking about who is better, with an eye over the previous 49 tests.

First, let's look at the numbers:

Joe Root
Age - 25

Runs - 4231
Avg - 53.55
SR - 55.40
100s - 11
50s - 23
HS - 254 v Pakistan, Old Trafford

Virat Kohli
Age - 28

Runs - 3643
Avg - 46.11
SR - 53.69
100s - 13
50s - 12
HS - 211 v New Zealand, Indore

For all you stataholics, the numbers aren't over yet. Let's look at one of the more interesting aspects of batting: how well one does away from home.

Joe Root - 19 matches with 1343 at 44.76, 3 100s and 8 50s. His highest score is 182* against the West Indies.

Virat Kohli - 28 matches with 2186 runs at 44.61, 9 100s and 5 50s. His highest score is 200 against also against the West Indies.

However, when we look at matches that teams featuring these batsmen have won away from home, we start seeing a stark contrast. Root's average jumps up to 86.80, with 2 of his 3 centuries coming in those matches. Most famously that 110 against South Africa (probably his best innings). Not to mention the SR almost increases by 20, showing a real intent to score and get big runs so England have more time with the ball. Kohli is a curious case, as 6 of the 22 away tests that his teams have won, he averages a startlingly low 34.36, with the lone century, admittedly a big one against the Windies. In next best score is 78 against Sri Lanka. The SR barely increases.

Now, let's look at the home tests, after all, they matter too.

Virat Kohli - 22 matches with 1608 runs at 53.60, 5 100s and 7 50s. The highest score is of course that 211 of dominance against the West Indies.

Joe Root - 28 matches with 2601 runs at 59.11, 8 100s and 12 50s. Much like Kohli, his highest score is also at home but this time against the far more formidable Pakistan.

Once again, there is a pronounced difference in Roots run scoring in matches won, an avg of 76.83 and 6 centuries. Kohlis contributions do not seem as important, a by products of other batsmen picking up the slack? Or does Kohli not handle the test match pressure as well?

I've been lucky to view the entirety of both mens careers and Kohli developed from an ODIp layer into a good test batsman, whereas Root was thrust into the test side young and developed on the scene. Kohli at times may have that scratchy, quick grab ODI mentality whereas Root has learned the hard way how to construct winning innings.

So, for money and I've said this for a while, I would take Root the test AND ODI batsman over Kohli any day but Kohli the t20 specialist is better.

Sound off below!
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
Root > Kohli in ODIs is just **** level INdia-bashing posts, low even for you.


Kohli is an ODI ATG. Root is nowhere close. AGree that Root > Kohli in tests so far, and by a decent margin.
 

listento_me

U19 Captain
Root > Kohli in ODIs is just **** level INdia-bashing posts, low even for you.


Kohli is an ODI ATG. Root is nowhere close. AGree that Root > Kohli in tests so far, and by a decent margin.
Why? Kohli has played over twice as many ODI games and his numbers are impressive but for the games that Root has played, his numbers are just as good. It's definitely closer in terms of ODI comparisons but when there is such a distance between the two in tests, you would have to label Root the better overall batsman.
 

Burner

International Regular
Root the better test batsman for me.

In ODIs Root doesn't have the impact Kohli has. You'll see the opposition scrambling to get Kohli out as soon as he's in. He's feared and I get the sense that the game goes into a different gear when Kohli's on the crease. Everyone, the bowlers, fielders know it's on.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
In tests Root easily.

In ODIs it's Kohli and its not even a contest. Have you ever seen Kohli bat in ODIs? He's arguably the greatest ODI bat I've seen since Richards.
 

Shri

Mr. Glass
Lol, Root has an average gap of almost 10 runs vs Kohli in ODIs and chokes against Australia without fail. If Root is as good as Kohli, then Ian Bell is as good an ODI batsman as Root.:laugh:
 

AndyZaltzHair

Hall of Fame Member
Read it wrong. Even though Root played half the matches and you are bringing up stats, kohli is def the better ODI player. He is just too beastly to beat when pressure situation is on and it comes mostly in chasing. Take his chasing average and I bet it's godly. Also have to add this that Kohli is also catching up in tests as I had some reservations previously. But for now,

In ODIs, Kohli > Root
In Tests, Root > Kohli
 

Bijed

International Regular
I think listento_me is saying that if he had to pick one of them to play tests and ODIs he'd choose Root - i.e he thinks the benefits of having Root over Kohli in your test side outweigh the benefits of having Kohli over Root in your ODI side and he's made a good case to that effect.

Agree with AZH that Kohli is narrowing the gap in tests right now.
 
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Shri

Mr. Glass
I do think robelinda and this guy have a good future in online marketing though. They know what buttons to push to get a response they want.
 

AndyZaltzHair

Hall of Fame Member
I think listento_me is saying that if he had to pick one of them to play tests and ODIs he'd choose Root - i.e he thinks the benefits of having Root over Kohli in your test side outweigh the benefits of having Kohli over Root in your ODI side and he's made a good case to that effect.

Agree with AZH that Kohli is narrowing the gap in tests right now.
It depends on what you prefer as a fan and throwing t20 to it too. For me then I would pick Root if I had to choose one of them right now. Ask casual Indian fans, they would pick Kohli I guess.

The way Kohli is maturing and building up his innings with heavy authority to it, it won't be surprising if he overtakes Root in few coming years. That said, Root is also classy enough not to let go his test performance and building upon what he's achieved so far. Interesting times ahead.
 

Bijed

International Regular
It depends on what you prefer as a fan and throwing t20 to it too. For me then I would pick Root if I had to choose one of them right now. Ask casual Indian fans, they would pick Kohli I guess.

The way Kohli is maturing and building up his innings with heavy authority to it, it won't be surprising if he overtakes Root in few coming years. That said, Root is also classy enough not to let go his test performance and building upon what he's achieved so far. Interesting times ahead.
Yeah, I prefer tests and am English (so a bit biased) so would pick Root, but it's reasonable to go either way and if you include T20s then I don't think I could argue against Kohli. Kohli 2-and-a-bit years older, though, so if Root sees a similar upturn across his game in a couple of years that'll be something special.
 

vcs

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Quite interesting to see you've compared them on everything, but their performances down under.

I posit that the only fair tie-breaker between the two is comparing how they handled Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris in Tests in Australia. Certainly a better way than to see their average/SR in winning causes etc.

What say you, listento_me?
 

honestbharani

Whatever it takes!!!
I think listento_me is saying that if he had to pick one of them to play tests and ODIs he'd choose Root - i.e he thinks the benefits of having Root over Kohli in your test side outweigh the benefits of having Kohli over Root in your ODI side and he's made a good case to that effect.

Agree with AZH that Kohli is narrowing the gap in tests right now.

Nah.. that is even more ****ed up logic there. Root is no ATG yet in tests, but Kohli already is an ATG in ODIs. And if anything, you lose far lesser in comparison if you take Kohli over Root for tests, if it means you can have Kohli for ODIs. The guy posts drivel any time anywhere to the effect of "X Indian Player not good" "Y Pak Player miles better" or sometimes both in the same post.
 

Bijed

International Regular
Nah.. that is even more ****ed up logic there. Root is no ATG yet in tests, but Kohli already is an ATG in ODIs. And if anything, you lose far lesser in comparison if you take Kohli over Root for tests, if it means you can have Kohli for ODIs. The guy posts drivel any time anywhere to the effect of "X Indian Player not good" "Y Pak Player miles better" or sometimes both in the same post.
Yeah, tbh my pick of Root was 95% because I don't care about ODI's all that much. If you weight them equally, I'd imagine you can get the numbers to support Root>Kohli or Kohli>Root to suit your preference. Anyway, my post was more to refute the people criticising LTM for saying Root>Kohli in ODIs when I don't think that's what he meant.
 
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vcs

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Nah.. that is even more ****ed up logic there. Root is no ATG yet in tests, but Kohli already is an ATG in ODIs. And if anything, you lose far lesser in comparison if you take Kohli over Root for tests, if it means you can have Kohli for ODIs. The guy posts drivel any time anywhere to the effect of "X Indian Player not good" "Y Pak Player miles better" or sometimes both in the same post.
It's OK, HB. He's entitled to crap on India at every opportunity if he wants to. I don't believe the site rules prohibit that. :)

However, I am sure we can also come up with enough semi-trolling arguments in favour of Kohli/other Indian players if we want to in response. :)
 

smash84

The Tiger King
Nah.. that is even more ****ed up logic there. Root is no ATG yet in tests, but Kohli already is an ATG in ODIs. And if anything, you lose far lesser in comparison if you take Kohli over Root for tests, if it means you can have Kohli for ODIs. The guy posts drivel any time anywhere to the effect of "X Indian Player not good" "Y Pak Player miles better" or sometimes both in the same post.
He;s a master of anti-gambhiring
 

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