Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: Who Is Better After 109 Test Matches?

Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith [Source: @Wessy_x, @innocent2904/x.com]

India and Australia are set to revive their epic rivalry. As the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 approaches, fans gear up to witness the ‘Toughest Rivalry’ in Test cricket. 

With the WTC final qualification on the line, the India tour of Australia is expected to be a tough series of grilling between the two teams. We will witness some epic battles during this series. One of the most highlighted ones will be between two of the best batters of the modern generation - Virat Kohli and Steve Smith.

Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: Current Form

While Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are two of the biggest names in contemporary cricket, both are going through a lean phase with the bat. If we look at the last five Test matches of these two mavericks, we find that Steve Smith edges the Indian batter by 21 runs in the same number of innings. Both these batters scored only one fifty-plus score during this phase.

This discussion on the current form was just to give a perspective to the fact that both Smith and Kohli are not in the best of their spaces coming into this game.

Now, moving on to the decorated careers of the two players. Virat Kohli has 118 Test matches in his career, while Steve Smith has played 109. While many might argue that Kohli’s recent form has put him behind Smith as a Test batter, let us look back at Kohli’s record nine matches earlier and see where these two superstars stand by after their 109th Test match. 

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Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: After 109 Test Matches

The numbers are a clear suggestion that by the 109th Test in both their careers, Steve Smith is way ahead of the Indian star. Smith has scored about 1,206 runs more than Kohli while playing just ten more innings. So, that averages to about 120 runs per innings. Besides, the Australian star also has a +7 average and has scored four more centuries and 13 more half-centuries in the same number of matches. 

This comparison gives us the clear idea that when it comes to Test cricket, Steve Smith is way ahead of Virat Kohli.

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