Shubman Gill Vs Virat Kohli: Decoding The More Impactful T20I Batter After 23 Innings

Gill vs Kohli after 23 T20I innings [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian cricket team is blessed to have extraordinary players across different generations. The 1970s and 80s were dominated by Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev; the 90s and 2000s was the era of the great Sachin Tendulkar, while Virat Kohli was the main man for India in the 2010s. Similarly, the 2020s will be remembered for India’s Test skipper, Shubman Gill.

At 25, he is the India Test captain and is already in line to become the next T20I and ODI skipper. Often, he gets compared with his idol, Virat Kohli, for similar playing styles and hunger for runs. Gill has all the attributes of Kohli, and this would take him far across various formats.

Their T20I batting style is also similar, and in this article, we will analyse their T20I numbers after 23 innings (since Gill has only played 23 matches in T20Is) to determine which player had more impact.

Gill vs Kohli after 23 T20I innings

(Gill vs Kohli after 23 innings)

• According to the data, after 23 matches, Virat Kohli dominated Gill in terms of runs and average, but Gill outscored Kohli in terms of strike rate.
• While Kohli definitely scored more runs from the middle order position, Gill accumulated his runs at a rapid pace, with a strike rate of 141. T20Is demand batters to play an aggressive brand of cricket, and Prince Gill pips King Kohli here.

Gill vs Kohli T20I stats at home after 23 innings

(Gill vs Kohli T20I stats at home after 23 innings)

• Ironically, both the batters played 7 games at home out of their first 23 innings, and Gill once again led the race with more runs, a higher average, and an even higher strike rate. 
• While Kohli only averaged 29 with a strike rate of 140, Gill overshadowed his idol, striking at an astonishing 167.91, showcasing his dominance in home conditions.

Gill vs Kohli T20I stats away from home after 23 innings

(Gill vs Kohli T20I away stats after 23 innings)

• In away conditions, the strike rates of both the batters decrease considerably. While Kohli dominates Gill in terms of runs and average, Gill has slightly better numbers when it comes to the batting strike rate.
• While Kohli strikes at 122, Gill is marginally better with a strike rate of 128.95, showcasing his upper hand over one of the best T20I batters of his generation.

One specific area where Kohli dominates

Gill certainly has a better strike rate and has an aggressive approach, but one area where Kohli outclasses him is the match-winning ability. Throughout his illustrious career, Kohli was India’s biggest match-winner in T20Is, and he bagged two Player of the Tournament awards.

Gill, on the other hand, is still finding his feet, and probably ten years down the line, he could surpass the legacy of Kohli.

Final verdict

While a young Kohli scored truckloads of runs after 23 innings, he was outshone by his student, Gill, in terms of free-flowing cricket. The 26-year-old has scored runs at a rapid pace, and with T20I cricket demanding an aggressive approach, Gill is marginally ahead, and if he continues the same trend, he could become better than Kohli by the time he retires.

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