Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were standout players in their Under-19 days and were expected to achieve great things. Rohit won the T20 World Cup with India in 2007, a year before Kohli made his debut. Kohli quickly became a key player for India and a leader of a new generation. He played a major role in India’s 2011 World Cup win and later became the best all-format batsman after taking over as Test captain from MS Dhoni.
Rohit took longer to become a regular in the Indian team across formats, though he set many records in white-ball cricket, including the highest ODI score (264). In recent years, he has become a consistent part of the Test team. Together, Virat and Rohit won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Here’s a comparison of their performances in different formats:
Test Cricket
| Stats | Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 113 | 59 |
| Runs | 8,848 | 1,371 |
| Centuries | 29 | 12 |
| Fifties | 30 | 17 |
| Average | 49.15 | 45.57 |
| Highest Score | 254* vs SA (2019) | 212 vs SA (2019) |
Kohli has played more matches and scored significantly more runs and centuries. Rohit has scored well in India, but Kohli has been more consistent abroad.
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ODIs
| Stats | Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 292 | 262 |
| Runs | 13,848 | 10,709 |
| Centuries | 50 | 31 |
| Fifties | 72 | 55 |
| Average | 58.67 | 49.12 |
| Strike Rate | 93.58 | 91.97 |
| Highest Score | 183 vs Pak (2012) | 264 vs SL (2014) |
In ODIs, Kohli has a higher average and a better strike rate, though Rohit has scored more double centuries.
T20Is
| Stats | Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 125 | 159 |
| Runs | 4,188 | 2,231 |
| Centuries | 1 | 5 |
| Fifties | 38 | 32 |
| Average | 48.69 | 32.05 |
| Strike Rate | 137.04 | 140.89 |
| Highest Score | 122* vs AFG (2022) | 121* vs AFG (2024) |
Kohli has a better average and more 50-plus scores in T20Is, while Rohit has more centuries and a slightly better strike rate.
IPL
| Stats | Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 252 | 257 |
| Runs | 8,004 | 6,628 |
| Average | 38.67 | 29.72 |
| Strike Rate | 131.97 | 131.14 |
| Centuries | 8 | 2 |
| Fifties | 55 | 43 |
| Sixes | 27 | 28 |
| Fours | 70 | 59 |
| Highest Score | 113* vs Rajasthan (2024) | 109 vs Kolkata (2012) |
Kohli holds the record for most runs in a single IPL season but has never won the title. Rohit has led his team to 5 IPL titles.
Who is the Better Batsman?
In overall comparison, Virat Kohli has the edge over Rohit Sharma, with more centuries and higher batting averages in all three formats (Test, ODI, and T20).
Who is the Better Captain?
| Format | Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 68 matches, 40 wins, 17 losses, 11 draws | 16 matches, 10 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws |
| ODIs | 95 matches, 65 wins, 27 losses, 1 tie | 45 matches, 34 wins, 10 losses |
| T20Is | 50 matches, 30 wins, 16 losses, 4 ties | 63 matches, 50 wins, 12 losses, 1 tie |
Kohli has a better overall record as captain, but Sharma has been more successful recently. Deciding who is the better captain can depend on personal preference.
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