Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: Complete statistical analysis

The battle of the current batting greats. Joe Root is arguably England’s best batsman and the rankings don’t lie – he is no. 2 in Test cricket, no. 7 in one-day internationals and fourth in the Twenty20 format. But Indian captain Virat Kohli, who recently produced a superb batting spectacle in Antigua to become the first Indian captain to score a double hundred away from home, is worthy competition and can himself claim the tag of the world’s current best batsman, having successfully proved himself across every format. Australia’s Steve Smith (42 Tests, 14 centuries) and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (49 Tests, 13 centuries), add class to the competition.

Though debates continue to rage whether Kohli or Root is better - with both posting double-centuries in the last week - we must also remember that Root’s contributions have led to more team victories than Kohli’s, especially in Tests. However, we have a long way to go before we can settle the question. While Kohli in ODIs and Root in Tests hold the edge for now, here is an in-depth analysis to help figure out who is more worthy to be the champion of the cricketing world.

Test Match

PLAYER	MAT	INNS	RUNS	AVE	100	50
KOHLI	49	84	3643	46.11	13	12
ROOT	49	90	4231	53.55	11	23

Having recently scored double centuries in their respective ongoing series against New Zealand and Pakistan, Kohli and Root, two modern prodigies have again staked their claim to being the greatest in the longest format, in the current era. Both Root and Kohli are classical batsmen and, while the English international has 10 centuries from 44 Tests and an astounding average of 53.28, the Indian captain has notched up 13 tons in 48 matches with an impressive 45.56 average.

Javed Miandad has already hailed them as the top two players in the world at present.Kohli had struggled earlier in his career against the likes of West Indies and New Zealand but his present form shows how much he has improved, and Root’s pacing of his innings against Pakistan and Bangladesh shows the maturity the player has achieved. Kohli proved he belonged in the ‘best’ category during India’s Test tour of Australia,where he scored India's only Test hundred at Adelaide. Meanwhile, Root has already demonstrated how prolific a run-scorer he can be when he made 1385 Test runs in 2015 alone.

However, if we are forced to choose one of them as better in the longer format, Root might just edge past the Indian captain for being consistently good, whereas Kohli had a few bumps in his early Test career and has yet to prove his mettle against England. Root also possesses a slightly better footwork than Kohli and has two double-hundreds to Kohli’s single double-ton. Both are on their way to greatness but in Tests, Joe Root ranked 3rd, might reach the pinnacle earlier than the 15th ranked Virat Kohli.

One Day International

PLAYER	MAT	INNS	RUNS	AVE	100	50
KOHLI	176	168	7570	52.93	26	38
ROOT	78	73	3017	45.71	8	17

In their last played ODIs, Kohli scored 65 against the Kiwis while Root made 6 against Pakistan. While Root has been slightly better than Kohli in Tests, and has showed his potential in T20, it is in ODIs that Root will find it difficult to match the Indian skipper who has raced away to 26 centuries while Root is stuck on 8.

Their ODI averages show a sort of reversal from Tests and in this format Kohli has the better average in the 50s, while Root remains in the mid-40s. Moreover, Kohli has played nearly 100 more matches than Root and has consistently proven himself to be a master of the ODI format.

Though Root has a long way to go to match Kohli’s numbers in ODIs, both he and Kohli have impressive strike-rates of 89.97 and 85 in this format. While Root has not yet played enough matches for him to be judged properly, perhaps the suitable competitor for Kohli in ODIs is the prolific AB de Villiers who has amassed 8024 runs in ODIs with 24 centuries at an average of 53.63. The ODI rankings sum up the position of Kohli and Root in the format with the Indian captain behind ABD at 2 and Root some way behind at 7.

Infographic: Joe Root vs Virat Kohli in ICC T20 World Cup 2016

International T20

PLAYER	MAT	INNS	RUNS	AVE	100	50
KOHLI	45	41	1657	57.13	0	16
ROOT	21	19	600	37.50	0	4

Several cricket purists have worried about how T20 cricket can destroy the game’s standards of batting and bowling, including greats like Martin Crowe worrying “about the effect this [new cricket] would have - on everything." Though ABD has emerged as the unorthodox hero of T20, it is the beauty and sting in the batting of Kohli and Root that remains more interesting to watch in the shortest format. Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson and Chris Gayle – though fantastic T20 players in their own right – still lack the art and consistency that Kohli and Root have demonstrated so wonderfully in recent times.

In the 2016 World T20, Root’s runs came in high-scoring games where he played mostly orthodox cricket shots, and unerringly picked the gaps in the field. Kohli has proven himself to be the master of the chase and has eclipsed Dhoni as he twice led tricky chases against Pakistan and Australia.

However, besides being the leading T20 players for their national sides, Kohli grabs eyeballs in overall T20 cricket having scored 4 centuries at an average of 41.85 while Root lags some way behind with an average of 32 and has yet to score a T20 century.

Root has proved his excellence in Tests, he has not done as much as Kohli in T20s and with the extra burden of captaincy, Kohli’s prolific records demonstrate that he is the better batsman in T20s. Both players, though, have continued to prove themselves in all three formats.

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.

Against Pace and Spin

PLAYER	TEST DIS PACE / SPIN	ODI DIS PACE / SPIN	T20I DIS PACE / SPIN
KOHLI	46 / 22	89 / 40	18 / 7
ROOT	52 / 15	38 / 21	7 / 6

• Kohli being from the subcontinent is generally good against spin and till earlier this year had only being dismissed 22 times by spin, while losing his wicket in Tests 45 times to pacers. Though he had scored more runs against pacers, he had a better average against spin. Root’s Test career follows a similar pattern as that of Kohli when it comes to playing pace vs spin. Even in ODIs the pattern continues and the players have both been dismissed more times by pacers than would be satisfactory to either of them.

• Kohli’s average against pace is lower than Root’s especially due to the poor series in England in 2014. Even in the last home series against South Africa, where the track was conducive for spin, Kohli got out to pacers more often. But, he has played the tricky and bouncy pitches of Australia and South Africa with remarkable ease.

• While Root has really established himself as being able to play in all conditions, it is Kohli who has broken the stereotype of Indians as poor travelers and moulded himself into a fearful and prolific batsman, even overseas, that have made India better competitors in away matches in recent times.

• Though Indians are generally considered good against spin, presently Joe Root is being hailed as best player of spin in the world. At Nagpur, on his debut, Root had scored 73 on a turner and faced a four-pronged Indian spin attack. On quicker tracks in countries such as Australia, New

• At Nagpur, on his debut, Root had scored 73 on a turner and faced a four-pronged Indian spin attack. On quicker tracks in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, both Kohli and Root have shown their class but Kohli has struggled in England whereas Root has faced difficulties while in Australia. Root’s excellent record against spinners is mainly due to the fact he played most of his Tests at home where spinners find it tough.

England batsman Joe Root leaves the field unbeaten on 154 against India

Major tournaments

PLAYER	WORLD CUPINNGS - RUNS (AVG)	ICC CHAMPIONSTROPHYINNINGS - RUNS (AVG)	2016 WORLD T20RUNS (SR)
KOHLI	17 - 587 (41.92)	7 - 271 (67.75)	273 (146.77)
ROOT	5 – 202 (40.40)	5 – 173 (34.60)	249 (146.47)

Kohli captained India U-19s to victory at the 2008 U-19 WC and was part of the squad that won the 2011 WC. He has played 17 WC matches with an impressive average of 41.92. Kohli has also performed brilliantly in the Asia Cup where he scored his highest ODI score of 183, and the Aus tri-series in 2012.

However what surpasses these figures is his brilliant contribution to the team in the ICC Champions Trophy where he averages 67.75 without any century in his kitty. In Tests he has stood up against the mighty Australians in the famous Border-Gavaskar trophy and scored 6 centuries with an enviable average of 60.76.

He has also played in the Asia Cup T20 and this year he again showed how he was making World T20 his own, with impressive performances throughout the tournament where India’s leading batsman amassed 273 runs at an average of 136.50 in five innings.

On the other hand, Root has not really been outstanding at major tournaments but impressive enough in both the 2015 WC and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. However he has performed well at The Ashes, having scored 3 centuries and an average of 89.50 in The Wisden Trophy with a highest score of 182*. He also caught the eye in the 2016 World T20 where he scored two 50s and finished with an average almost touching 50.

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.

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.

Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century against Australia.

• 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.