MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli are two of India’s greatest cricket players and captains, each with a unique style. Dhoni is known for his “helicopter shot,” while Kohli is famous for his “cover drive.” Fans often debate who is better between these two cricketing legends. This comparison will look at their records as captains and batsmen in various formats of the game.
MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli Captaincy Records
Let’s compare their records as captains in different cricket formats.
Test Matches
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 2008-2014 | 2014-2022 |
| Matches | 60 | 68 |
| Won | 27 | 40 |
| Lost | 18 | 17 |
| Draw | 15 | 11 |
| Win Percentage | 45% | 58.82% |
Analysis: Kohli has a higher win percentage and has won more Test matches as captain compared to Dhoni.
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 2007-2018 | 2013-2021 |
| Matches | 200 | 95 |
| Won | 110 | 65 |
| Lost | 74 | 27 |
| Draw | 5 | 1 |
| Win Percentage | 59.52% | 70.43% |
Analysis: Kohli has a better win percentage but has captained fewer matches than Dhoni.
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T20 Internationals (T20Is)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 2007-2016 | 2017-2021 |
| Matches | 72 | 50 |
| Won | 41 | 30 |
| Lost | 28 | 16 |
| Draw | 1 | 2 |
| Win Percentage | 59.28% | 64.58% |
Analysis: Kohli has a higher win percentage in T20Is.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Span | 2008-2022 | 2011-2021 |
| Matches | 210 | 140 |
| Won | 123 | 64 |
| Lost | 86 | 69 |
| Draw | 0 | 3 |
| Win Percentage | 58.58% | 48.16% |
Analysis: Dhoni has a better win percentage and has led his team to more victories in the IPL.
MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli Batting Records
Let’s compare their batting stats across formats.
Test Matches
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 144 | 173 |
| Runs | 4876 | 8055 |
| Balls Faced | 8249 | 14480 |
| Dismissals | 128 | 163 |
| Batting Average | 38.09 | 49.42 |
| Strike Rate | 59.11 | 55.63 |
| Highest Score | 224 | 254 |
| Fours | 545 | 909 |
| Sixes | 78 | 24 |
| Fifties | 33 | 28 |
| Centuries | 6 | 27 |
Analysis: Kohli has a higher average and more centuries in Test cricket, though Dhoni has a slightly better strike rate.
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One Day Internationals (ODIs)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 297 | 252 |
| Runs | 10773 | 12344 |
| Balls Faced | 12305 | 13296 |
| Dismissals | 213 | 214 |
| Batting Average | 50.58 | 57.68 |
| Strike Rate | 87.55 | 92.84 |
| Highest Score | 183 | 183 |
| Fours | 826 | 1160 |
| Sixes | 229 | 127 |
| Fifties | 73 | 64 |
| Centuries | 10 | 43 |
Analysis: Kohli has a higher batting average and more centuries, but Dhoni has a higher strike rate.
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 84 | 91 |
| Runs | 1617 | 3308 |
| Balls Faced | 1282 | 2403 |
| Dismissals | 43 | 66 |
| Batting Average | 37.6 | 50.12 |
| Strike Rate | 126.13 | 137.66 |
| Highest Score | 56 | 94 |
| Fours | 116 | 299 |
| Sixes | 52 | 93 |
| Fifties | 2 | 30 |
| Centuries | 0 | 0 |
Analysis: Kohli has a better average and strike rate, though he has faced more balls.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
| Stat | MS Dhoni | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Innings | 205 | 215 |
| Runs | 4977 | 6624 |
| Balls Faced | 3682 | 5129 |
| Dismissals | 127 | 183 |
| Batting Average | 39.19 | 53.62 |
| Strike Rate | 135.17 | 129.15 |
| Highest Score | 84 | 113 |
| Fours | 346 | 579 |
| Sixes | 229 | 219 |
| Fifties | 24 | 44 |
| Centuries | 0 | 5 |
Analysis: Kohli has more runs and centuries, but Dhoni has a higher strike rate and more sixes.
Conclusion
In terms of captaincy, Kohli has a better win percentage in Test and T20I formats, while Dhoni excels in ODIs and the IPL. Dhoni’s success in ICC tournaments and IPL titles highlights his impressive leadership. For batting, Kohli has better records in most formats, including more runs and centuries. Dhoni’s role as a finisher often means his stats reflect different match situations compared to Kohli’s role as a top-order batsman.
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