Virat Kohli vs Viv Richards: An ODI comparison

Virat Kohli’s numbers speak for themselves

Table 2: Average and Strike Rate Factor

Looking at player value by taking the peak form years into account also puts Richards ahead of Kohli. Richards averaged a phenomenal 59.24 from Dec 1975-Mar 1986, which gives him an unbelievable average factor of 2.13.

Kohli, on the other hand, has averaged 57.15 from Sep 2011 onwards, giving him an average factor of 1.70. On strike rate too Richards pips Kohli with a strike rate factor of 1.43 compared to Kohli’s factor of 1.14.

Richards, it emerges, had an overall value factor of 3.05, implying that he was nearly thrice as good as the average top and middle order batsman during his peak. Kohli’s value factor at 1.92 is also nothing short of incredible given the rate at which runs are scored in the modern era, but Richards number appears truly phenomenal.

Richards’ supremacy is illustrated best through two innings; a 39 ball 82 vs England at POS (1985) and a 39 ball 80 vs Pakistan at Gujranwala (1985). These were two of the only four 50 plus scores accumulated at a strike rate of more than 200 throughout the 1980s. That is a serious achievement to lay claim to.

Player Name	Peak Period	Average	Strike Rate	Overall Average	Overall Strike Rate	Average Factor	S/R Factor	Overall Factor
Viv Richards	Dec 1975-Mar 1986	59.24	91.35	27.78	63.86	2.13	1.43	3.05
Virat Kohli	Sep 2011-Oct 2016	57.15	94.68	33.71	81.07	1.70	1.14	1.93

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Table 3: Average and Strike Rate Factor (Peak Period)

Richards once said in an interview that the world wouldn’t see the best of him until something (some title) is on the line. His claim is amply reflected through his performance in tournament finals and semi-finals where he averages an impressive 53.42.

Kohli averages a paltry 24.4 in such matches, which is surprising for a player of his mettle. Richard’s average in such matches is only bettered by Gary Kirsten, Michael Bevan and Javed Miandad.

Player Name	Matches	Innings	Not Outs	Runs	Average	100	50
Viv Richards	24	22	3	1015	53.42	1	11
Virat Kohli	12	12	2	244	24.40	0	1

Let’s review how their performances match up in Tournament Semi-Finals and Finals on the next page!