Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: ODI Stats Comparison After 168 Innings

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Joe Root and Virat Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @ViratBomB/x.com]Joe Root and Virat Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @ViratBomB/x.com]

When it comes to modern cricket, Joe Root and Virat Kohli are two of the biggest names. These two players have been a part of the fab four of the era. The thing that differentiates these two players is their verstatility across formats. 

Joe Root has played the best knock of his ODI career in the second match against West Indies. He played a brilliant knock of 166 off 139 balls and sculpted the win for England. After this brilliant show, here is a comparison of the ODI stats between Joe Root and Virat Kohli after 168 innings. 

Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: Overall ODI record

Stats
Joe Root
Virat Kohli
Innings168168
Runs7,0827,570
Average49.1852.93
Strike Rate
87.5990.43
100s/50s
18/4226/38
Matches Per 1009.336.46

Inference: Even though Virat Kohli is considered one of the greatest batters in the ODI format. Joe Root has also showed great efficiencny in the format. The overall record does make it clear that Virat Kohli was way ahead of Joe Root after 168 innings, the numbers reveal the fact that the English batter has done much better in the format than interpreted.

Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: ODI Record At Home

Stats
Joe Root
Virat Kohli
Innings86
68
Runs3,5623,202
Average48.7958.21
Strike Rate
89.8493.90
100s/50s
9/2011/18
Matches Per 1009.556.18

Inference: Joe Root has more runs than Virat Kohli in home conditions when it comes to the performance after 168 ODI innings. However, Kohli had played 18 less innings than Root and has a much better average. Even in this case, the match per 100 for Kohli is way better than Joe Root. 

Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: ODI Record In Away Conditions

Stats
Joe Root
Virat Kohli
Innings63
72
Runs2,7202,885
Average52.3047.29
Strike Rate
83.6488.09
100s/50s
7/1611/13
Matches Per 10096.54

Inference: When it comes to record away from home after 168 ODI innings, Joe Root has a better average. However, when it comes to runs Kohli is on the lead and also has more centuries. Besides, Virat Kohli has a better rate of scoring centuries than Joe Root. 

Conclusion

If we see the overall record of the two players, Virat Kohli stands ahead of Joe Root. But there is often a notion that the English batter is not a great batter in the ODI format. However, the numbers show here that Root is not way behind Kohli and has done pretty decently and much better than represented by general cricket fans.