Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: Complete statistical analysis

Bowling

PLAYER	TESTWkts	ODIWkts	T20/T20IWkts
KOHLI	0	4	8/4
ROOT	13	13	10/6

Generally not considered while making comparisons between these 2 batting greats of the modern game, Root’s significant bowling prowess gives him a slight advantage over Kohli when their stats and talents are stacked against one another. Root has picked up 13 wickets in Tests to Kohli’s 0 and his off-spin seems to have serious potential. Graeme Swann’s retirement has left a void in England’s spin options and Root may very well fill that as a potential part-time spinner.

While Kohli has only managed to pick up 4 wickets each in ODIs and T20Is, Root has taken 13 and 6 wickets to triumph over Kohli as a better bowler. With both the players having taken more than 100 catches and being dedicated and active fielders saving lots of runs for their teams, Root adds on to his batting ability by his bowling presence as witnessed in the T20 WC final where he opened the bowling and took two wickets in an over.

Joe Root can bowl part-time spin for England

Home and Away

Tests

PLAYER	MATHOME/AWAY	INNSH/A	RUNSH/A	AVGH/A	100H/A	50H/A
KOHLI	19 / 27	32 / 50	1368 / 2168	47.17 / 44.61	4 / 9	7 / 5
ROOT	27 / 21	48 / 40	2407 / 1696	57.31 / 48.46	7 / 3	11 / 12

ODIs

PLAYER	MATHOME/AWAY	INNS H/A	RUNSH/A	AVGH/A	100H/A	50H/A
KOHLI	68 / 108	65 / 103	3202 / 4368	58.22 / 49.64	11 /15	18 / 20
ROOT	31 / 47	29 / 44	1136 / 1881	42.07 / 48.23	3 / 5	6 / 11

While India have generally been labeled as poor travelers, in Tests, Kohli has an impressive away record with an average of 44.61 that matches and even slightly betters his home average of 47. However, Joe Root has been sensational at home with an average of 57.31 and an incredible 48.46 away, though, Kohli has an unbelievable 9 centuries away from home. Barring the Australia Ashes, Root has an average of around 40 in the sub-continent and over 45 elsewhere.

Besides Tests, Root has also proved himself overseas with an astounding 55.30 average to his 37.25 at home in ODIs but his figures seem less impressive away in T20s where he has managed an average of 20.6 while at home he can proudly boast of T20I average of 63.33.

Kohli meanwhile has impressive batting averages both home and away in ODIs (54.69 and 47.29) and T20s (47.81 and 62.55). Kohli has more hundreds away from home while, Root who has not exactly thrived in Oceania has an impressive tally of centuries in his own backyard.