Batting Position
| PLAYER | TEST RUNS (AVG)No.4 / No. 5 | ODI RUNS (AVG)No. 3 / No. 4 | T20I RUNS (AVG)No. 3 |
| KOHLI | 2183 (50.77) / 859 (42.95) | 5481 (54.27) / 1744 (58.13) | 1484 (61.83) |
| ROOT | 957 (50.36) / 1755 (73.12) | 1241 (51.71) / 1657 (41.42) | 308 (38.50) |
Both Kohli and Root have batted at various positions and have incredibly amassed runs at several different positions in different formats of the game.
In Tests, Kohli has batted from 3rd through to the 7th position, but has scored the most runs batting 4th with an average of 50.77 while also doing impressively at both No.5 and No.6 (where he batted during his earlier Test career). In ODIs though, the Indian skipper has batted from No. 1 to No. 7 yet he has cemented his suitability to the 3rd and 4th spots from where he has been able to anchor as well as steer the team.
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In T20s Kohli, of course, has done very well even when he has opened the innings but has been especially influential in the No. 3 spot of the batting hierarchy.
Root again has played across various positions and in Tests had performed beautifully even at No. 5 where he scored his first double-century, before finally making the number 4 spot his own. However with his recent second double-ton, he registered the third-highest score by an England No. 3 batsman and is primed to welcome his stay at the promoted No. 3 hot seat.
In ODIs too he has been successful at both 3rd and 4th spot but recently he seems to have made the No. 3 spot his preference in all three formats as demonstrated by his near-40 T20I average at his favourite position.
His conversion rate of 50’s to 100’s in ODI is very strong, but Kohli’s conversion rate is better and his record in the shorter format is unbelievable.
Against Opposition
| KOHLI in | AUSRUNS (AVG) | NEW ZEALANDRUNS (AVG) | ENGRUNS (AVG) |
| TESTS | 1276 (60.76) | 735 (66.82) | 322 (20.12) |
| ODIs | 1002 (55.66) | 891 (68.54) | 736 (38.73) |
| ROOT in | AUSRUNS (AVG) | NEW ZEALANDRUNS (AVG) | INDRUNS (AVG) |
| TESTS | 991 (41.29) | 514 (39.53) | 611 (101.83) |
| ODIs | 212 (17.66) | 612 (61.20) | 336 (37.33) |
Most great players throughout history have had opponents or teams against which they have always done well. India’s VVS Laxman seemed to have a penchant for producing his best against the Aussies and after his retirement, Virat Kohli seems to have stepped into his shoes as he has consistently done well against Australia.
He has amassed 6 centuries and have an average of 60.76 against the Aussies in Tests but even incredibly has an even higher average of 66.82 against New Zealand. However, he has performed despicably against England and has managed to bring up only 322 runs in 17 innings.
In ODIs he has performed consistently well against all teams and his average of 38.73 against England is less than that against other major nations. In T20s he has enviable averages of 100 and 84.66 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while in Bangladesh he has notched up 472 runs in 11 matches at an incredible 94.40 average.
Root is good against spin as well and averages 101 in India. Root also has impressive figures against Pakistan and West Indies, though, Root was tested against Australia in the Ashes of 2013-14. Root averaged 27 Down Under and faced problems against spin and pace. Similarly, he has performed badly even in ODIs against the Aussies whereas he has impressed with the bat against Sri Lanka and West Indies and especially done well against New Zealand and South Africa. In T20s, he has fared better against Australia but his average of 95 against NZ stands out.
It is a bit ironic when we realize that Root has failed against Australia whereas Kohli has prospered, but Kohli himself has done miserably against Root’s England while the England international has triumphed quite well against India.
Thus it is very difficult to pronounce one of them as greater than the other because they seem to be evenly matched and, although Root seems to be ahead in Tests we must not forget that Kohli still has a couple of centuries more and seems to be improving rapidly in Tests. Though both of them performed well in the 2016 World T20 but Kohli’s superior performance in the IPL provides him an edge in T20s. Kohli also is the better batsman in ODIs.
However, Root’s consistent performances and the runs scored in different conditions gives him a clear advantage over Kohli in certain areas. Depending upon what statistic you wish to consider as the most important, you can make your own conclusion based on these numbers about who is the greatest!
Kohli is only the second captain to score twin hundreds on his captaincy debut and once Root is handed the England captaincy, the fight for the cricketing crown can only get better to the delight of all cricket-lovers.
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