Virat Kohli vs Sir Vivian Richards: A statistical battle

Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, the man who rocked the cricketing world with his explosive batting. The inventor of gladiatorial cricket. The bowler killer. There are many titles to this menacing yesteryear batsman. But everything fell short against his demeanour!

When Greenidge or Haynes got out, there used to be a deafening silence among the crowd. The world stopped when Sir Viv Richards walked in, with every single pair of eyeballs on him as he walked like a lion going on a hunt, busy adjusting the chewing gum between his jaws, flexing his shoulder muscles one after the other with his weapon.

Sir Viv was considered to be one of the most devastating and intimidating batsmen of all time. He was voted as the greatest ODI batsman of all time in 2002. And the third greatest Test batsman of all time, only behind Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar.

But, if there was any batsman after Bradman, who had more impact on the game, not in terms of technicalities of batting, but changing the mindset of a batter than it must be Sir Vivian Richards. But, then came Tendulkar and he acquired most of that space in that special kingdom built by Bradman. The latest one to be inducted into that special kingdom is Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli, the ruthless run machine that churns out tons after tons. Virat has made the world take a back seat and witness the demolition of bowling attacks. Though the bowling attacks in the present day have been questionable when compared to the yesteryear's, there is nothing that can be taken away from this modern day batting genius.

Sir Viv once said " Kohli reminds me of myself", and when the original Master Blaster says such a thing; you surely ought to be special. But, let's be honest, when it comes to having an impact on the game, there is surely no comparison; Sir Vivian Richards stands tall!

From a fan point of view, there is always a thing for numbers no matter what stage of career the player is in, isn't it? So, let us look at some of the statistics between these two giants across two formats.

#1 Tests

In 124 innings out of 73 test matches, Virat Kohli has scored 6331 runs at an avg of 54.58, with 19 half centuries, 24 centuries and 6 double centuries in total.

In 182 innings out of 121 test matches, Sir Vivian Richards had scored 8540 runs at an avg of 50.24 with 45 half centuries, 24 centuries and 3 double centuries.

Let's delve deeper into it by analysing their records against their toughest opposition at the time.

Against England:

Virat Kohli has scored 1570 runs at an avg of 49.06 in 19 matches with 5 centuries and 5 half centuries.

Virat had a disastrous tour of England in 2014, where he scored a mere 134 runs at an avg of 13.4 in 10 innings, but he recovered in the 2016 home series and 2018 tour of England, by scoring 544 runs at an avg of 59.3, but there is still lot of cricket left in Virat, who's going to play at least 2 more tours. Against the likes of Anderson, Broad, Stokes, Woakes and etc.

Sir Vivian Richards has scored 2869 runs at an avg of 62.37 in 36 matches. With 8 centuries and 15 half centuries.

Sir Viv played most of his Test career against 5 nations. England was the place he loved the most. He had one of the greatest debut tours of all time where he scored 135, 235 and 291 being his best scores. He amassed mind-boggling 829 runs despite missing out the 2nd Test at Lord's. Against the likes of Underwood, Willis, Snow and etc.

Against Australia:

In 15 matches, Virat Kohli has scored 1332 runs at an avg of 50.85 which includes 3 centuries at Adelaide and one at Sydney and Melbourne, and one at home. 3 half centuries too, against the likes of Starc, Mitch Johnson, and Hazlewood etc. However, Virat only managed to score 46 runs in 5 innings in the 2017 home series against them.

In 34 matches against the Aussies, Sir Vivian Richards could only manage 5 centuries and the last of his double centuries. He scored 2226 at an avg of 44.3 against the likes of Lenny Pascoe, Denis Lillee, and Jeff Thompson.

#2 One Day Internationals

Sir Vivian Richards played 187 ODIs in which he scored a total of 6721 runs at a magnificent average of 47.00 and a staggering strike rate of 90.2, which at that time was unheard of. If considered the T20 invasion, due to inflation, it would be 130+ nowadays. Such was the menace of the man.

In 1979, Richards scored 526 runs in 8 innings at a breathtaking avg of 131.50.

Against England:

In 36 matches, the Antiguan scored 1619 runs at an astonishing avg of 57+. He scored the highest score recorded in ODIs at that time. His 189 is considered by some to be the greatest ODI innings of all time. In the same innings he had a 106* partnership with Holding, scoring 93 of them, at a startling strike rate of 91.26. He scored 3 centuries and 11 half centuries.

Richards scored one of the all-time great knocks in the 1975 WC. His 138, which consisted of 11 fours and 3 sixes, helped Windies clinch their first ever world cup.

Against Australia:

He scored 2187 runs at an avg of 50.86 and strike rate reaching almost 85. Includes 3 centuries and 20 half centuries. His famous fielding effort in 1975 turned the World Cup on its head where he ran out 3 important Aussie batsmen.

Virat Kohli, as an ode batsman has been a phenomenon himself. He is setting the benchmark for ODI batsmanship. Every innings of his seems to break at least 5 records in a match, especially his idol's.

Virat Kohli in 2018, became fastest to 10000run mark and he reached there in 54 innings less than Sachin's previous record of 259 innings.

In 2018 itself Kohli has amassed 1202 runs in 14 innings at a Bradmanesque average of 133.55 and striking them at a stunning rate of 102.55. He has scored 6 hundreds out of which 3 came in South Africa and other 3 resulted into him becoming first Indian to score a hattrick of tons making it a total of 38 centuries in Odis.

Against England:

In 29 innings, Kohli has scored 1112 runs at an avg of 44.48 and at a strike rate of 89.75, which includes three 100+ and six 50+ scores. Kohli hasn't been able to perform well against England in England.

Against Australia:

In 26 innings out of 28 matches, Kohli has scored 1182 runs at an avg of 51.39 and a strike rate of 94.71 which includes five 100+ scores and five 50+ scores.

#3 World Cups

Both Virat Kohli and Sir Vivian Richards have been a part of a successful World Cup winning squad. Richards was very much part of two World Cup winning elevens while Kohli has a got a great chance to make it two in 2019, winning the first in 2011.

Virat Kohli, in 17 innings, has scored 587 runs at an avg of 42 and strike rate of 82, including two 100+ and one 50+ scores. On the other hand, the mighty Sir Viv amassed 1013 runs in 21 innings out of 23 matches which includes 3 majestic 100+ scores and five 50+ scores at a stupendous average of 63.31.

Tournament finals:

Virat Kohli has still not managed to score a 50 in a tournament final. His highest score is 43. He averages a dismal 22 in big games.

Mighty Viv was a big player as his record in tournament finals stands out. In 18 matches, he has scored 836 runs at a jaw-dropping average of 55.73, which includes nine 50+ scores and one century in the World Cup final in 1979.

This shows when it comes to big games, Sir Viv has the edge. Kohli still has a lot of opportunities with a minimum of two more World Cups possible in his career.

4) captaincy

Vivian Richards was a great captain and his records speak for itself. In 50 test matches that he lead the carribean's, his team won 27 games and lost only 8 matches. Eventhough they had a devastating bowling attack, it's difficult for a captain to control big players and make every one play for one goal. His win percentage is 54% just below Waugh and Pointing.

As a captain, Sir Vivian Richards in 74 innings scored 3068 runs at an avg of 45.12 which includes 6 100+ and 23 50+ scores.

While Kohli is still a young captain he has achieved some rare feat. His batting performances as a captain is phenomenal. But, most of them being at home makes it less interesting. The real challenge lied in South Africa, England and Australia. But, his team, though put out a show, but it wasn't enough to seal victory. At present, Kohli has lead team India into 42 test matches and 27 of them have been on winning end and 9 on losing one. His winning percentage is 57.14.

But Kohli has been phenomenal when it comes to taking the responsibility of the team on his shoulders with the bat. He has scored a whopping 4233 runs at a stunning avg of 65.12. He has scored 17 100+ scores and only 9 50+ scores. And to add to that, he has got 6 double hundreds as a skipper. His conversion rate is considered to be one of the best of all time.

Though we know numbers don't speak all about a player, and definitely not about Sir I.V.A. Richards, it's just a matter of numbers that's all. There is no comparison between these two, they are legends in their own right.