6 great contemporary batsmen – Who is the best of them all?

ODIs – Kohli Edges out AB de Villiers and Amla

In ODIs, Virat Kohli is the clear leader, a man who is probably in the running for the greatest ODI batsmen ever, if he continues in this rampaging form. Kohli is a run-machine of the highest order in the shorter formats of the game, bettering even Sachin Tendulkar’s numbers when it comes to high-pressure chases.

	ODIs	Runs	Avg. Batting 1st	Avg. Batting 2nd	100s/50s
Virat Kohli	171	7212	41.23	61.22	25/36
Joe Root	70	2574	48.87	36.96	8/12
Kane Williamson	93	3666	48.8	44.25	7/25
Steve Smith	78	2300	39.45	43.08	5/12
Hashim Amla	136	6445	58.32	42.58	23/30
AB de Villiers	206	8742	51.46	56.66	24/48

Kohli outgunned AB de Villiers to quite a few landmarks including the fastest to 7000 runs in 161 innings. However, Hashim Amla is hot on his heels bettering all his marks so far till 6000 runs and on track to eclipse the 7000 run mark as well. While AB de Villiers does hold the record for the fastest century and 150 in ODI cricket, Kohli, like Smith boasts of a World Cup in his trophy cabinet.

Given the age gap, there is no doubt as to who will end up with more runs.

In contemporary cricket though, it is hard to take a pick between Kohli, AB de Villiers and Amla, all of whom average over 50 in ODIs. However, AB de Villiers’ strike rate is 99.87, almost 10 points ahead of Amla and Kohli.

Kohli though makes up for that with big match innings, having already scored 25 centuries, 1 more than AB de Villiers, who has played 35 more ODIs. Amla’s late start has cost him a little bit in this race, but he is just 2 centuries behind Kohli having played 34 games fewer, an indicator of how good he really has been.

Interestingly, of the six batsmen, Kohli’s average batting first is only better than that of Steven Smith. His second innings average though is a good 5 points better than that of the second best, AB de Villiers. Once again, AB de Villiers, might win the race based on his strike-rate and versatility, but in the long run, it is Kohli, who’ll eventually take the mantel of the best ODI batsman.

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Last 3 Years in ODIs – AB de Villiers shows his class

The last three years have been probably the best in AB de Villiers’ career as his strike-rate spikes to an unbelievable 115. Doing that in itself is miraculous. But, the great man also manages an average of 62.5 which makes his record phenomenal.

Kohli and Williamson have been good during the same time, but they are some distance away from AB de Villiers. Exactly how long this purple patch will last for AB de Villiers is anyone’s guess. But while it lasts, it is difficult to look beyond him for the title of Best ODI Batsman.

Last 3 Years	ODIs	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	100s/50s
Virat Kohli	68	2982	54.21	95.69	12/13
Joe Root	54	1984	42.21	83.89	8/8
Kane Williamson	48	2399	55.79	87.74	4/19
Steve Smith	45	1920	50.52	88.27	5/12
Hashim Amla	64	2865	48.55	86.63	12/10
AB de Villiers	63	3062	62.48	114.89	10/15

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T20s in the last 3 years – Kohli Ahead by Head and Shoulders

In the last 3 years, Kohli has been the indomitable force in T20 cricket, playing a clean, beautiful game, with a Bradmanesque average of 90.25 at a breath-taking strike-rate. Kohli’s average is more than twice that of his nearest competitor Kane Williamson, showing that he is in a class of his own.

	T20s	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	100s/50s
Virat Kohli	23	1083	90.25	137.78	0/12
Joe Root	18	594	39.6	138.78	0/4
Kane Williamson	22	761	40.05	125.99	0/5
Steve Smith	10	266	29.95	133	0/2
Hashim Amla	22	739	38.89	133.39	0/5
AB de Villiers	26	550	25	149.86	0/4

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Conclusion

Root, along with Williamson, has excellent record on the upsurge in all formats of the game

It is a tough call at this moment – picking the best batsman across forms and formats and various surfaces. David Warner is pushing fast and hard and in the next couple of years, the world order might really change. But, right now, even as AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla probably enter the last phases of their careers, Kohli, Root, Smith and Williamson are set to slug it out for the spot of the Best Batsmen in the World.

While Smith has it covered in the Tests, Kohli holds the edge in ODIs and T20s. But overall, it is still AB de Villiers who rules the roost across formats. Warner to some extent, but more predominantly, Root and Williamson have excellent records on the upsurge in all formats of the game.

This is what was probably referred to in mythology as the Clash of the Titans!