Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: Who is the better IPL batsman between the two behemoths

One is the challenger, clad in red. His shots are akin to a flowing river. They are smooth, mellifluous, and can sometimes even leave you dazed. His cover drive can be used to impart cricketing lessons on how to master the shot, and the aura that he exudes out in the middle is unmatched.

The other is the Hitman, clad in blue. He is like a tornado. He can hit monstrous sixes and can shatter the confidence of any bowler in the world. And, this man can make the most difficult of shots appear like child’s play.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are arguably two of the greatest batsmen in the history of IPL cricket. The two men have been the pillars of their respective sides with the willow in hand, and have carved a niche for themselves with their stroke play. Let us chew in some numbers to understand what these two behemoths have achieved in IPL cricket with the willow in hand.

Together, Kohli and Sharma have played a whopping 393 innings in IPL cricket, and have plundered 11556 runs together as well. Throw in 6 centuries and 80 half-centuries into the mix, and you will understand the magnitude of what these two men have achieved.

But then, who is the better batsman between the two in IPL cricket? Well, let us answer that question in this article.

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: The Overall IPL Numbers

Both Kohli and Sharma have been a part of the IPL for more than a decade, and let us start this comparison by scrutinizing the overall numbers of these two batting gladiators. The table below will reflect the same.

Virat Kohli certainly holds the edge over Rohit Sharma when the overall numbers of both these willow wielders are scrutinized. Kohli has scored 596 runs more than Sharma in the IPL in spite of playing 11 innings lesser than the Mumbai Indians’ skipper. Also, Kohli averages 6.48 more than Sharma as well.

This is not all. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper has scored 4 centuries more than Sharma too. Also, Kohli has 45 fifty-plus scores in 191 innings, which means that he scores in excess of fifty once every 4.24 innings in IPL cricket.

On the other hand, the ‘Hitman’ records a fifty-plus score once every 4.93 innings in the IPL, as he has recorded 41 fifty-plus scores in 202 innings. And, as far as strike rate is concerned, there is not much difference between the two. Clearly, Kohli stands tall over Rohit when the overall records of these two batsmen are taken into consideration.

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: Record in an IPL Win

Now, let us come to the next important parameter. And that is, how have these two men fared with the willow in a win in IPL cricket. The table below will elucidate the same.

Once again, it is Virat Kohli who pips Rohit Sharma when the numbers of these two gladiators in a win are analyzed. Kohli averages close to 50 in a win with the willow in IPL cricket, and has also scored his runs at a strike rate of 139.33. While Rohit’s numbers are not bad, they do not match up to that of Kohli’s.

Rohit Sharma averages 41.22 in a win, which is 8.76 lesser than that of Kohli’s. Also, Kohli’s strike rate is 3.69 more than that of Rohit’s. Furthermore, the RCB skipper has 23 fifty-plus scores in 87 innings in a win, which means that Kohli records a fifty-plus score once every 3.78 innings in a win in IPL cricket. On the other hand, the ‘Hitman’ has 26 fifty-plus scores in 110 innings in a win, which translates to a fifty-plus score once every 4.23 innings in an IPL win. Clearly, it is Kohli who outclasses Rohit when the records of these two batsmen in an IPL win are scrutinized.

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: Record in an IPL run chase

A run chase, especially in T20 cricket presents a challenging situation for any batsman. The asking rate constantly glares at the batsman and when a team is chasing a huge target, even a few dot balls played can increase the pressure manifold. So, how have Kohli and Rohit fared in an IPL run chase?

From the above table, we can see that Kohli once again outshines Rohit Sharma in an IPL run chase. The Bangalore batting icon has plundered 632 runs more than Sharma, and also averages 8.54 more than Sharma. Also, while Kohli’s strike rate in an IPL run chase is 130.24, Sharma scores his runs at a strike rate of just 122.52 in an IPL run chase.

Kohli has recorded 18 fifty-plus scores in 96 innings in an IPL run chase, which means that he records a fifty-plus score once every 5.33 innings in an IPL run chase. On the other hand, Sharma records a fifty-plus score once every 5.75 innings. Yet again, Kohli stands head and shoulders over Rohit Sharma.

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: Record in an IPL run chase in a win

Now, let us go deeper. Let us analyze the records of these two legends in a run chase in the IPL that resulted in a win for their team in the table below.

Once again, it is Virat Kohli who pips Rohit Sharma. While Sharma’s numbers in a win in an IPL run chase are surely not bad, Kohli has accumulated excellent numbers. The Bangalore batting maestro has scored 98 runs more than the ‘Hitman’ in a successful IPL run chase, even though he has played 3 innings lesser than the current Mumbai Indians’ (MI) skipper. Also, while Sharma averages 47.18 in a run chase in an IPL win, Kohli averages a stunning 55.44.

Kohli’s strike rate too, is considerably higher (137.20), as compared to that of Sharma’s (125.31). While Kohli has scored a hundred in a successful IPL run chase, the ‘Hitman’ has not managed to do so. The only place where Sharma fares better than Kohli in a successful IPL run chase is the fact that he has an innings per fifty-plus score of 4.16 in a successful IPL run chase, as compared to Kohli, who recorded a fifty-plus score once every 4.70 innings. Well, even here, it is Kohli who comes out on top.

Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma: Record in IPL knockouts

Now, let us come to the final parameter of discussion. There is extra pressure on a batsman when the IPL knockout stages arrive. The stakes are higher, the adrenaline levels increase, and the pressure rises manifold. So, how have Kohli and Sharma fared in IPL knockouts?

Right. So, both Kohli and Sharma do not boast of good numbers during the ‘crunch time’ of the IPL. But still, it is Kohli who has a better record in IPL knockout matches (playoffs and finals) as compared to Rohit Sharma. While Kohli has scored 237 runs in 11 innings in IPL knockout matches at an average of 26.33, Sharma averages a paltry 16.50 and has managed to score only 297 runs in as many as 19 innings.

Also, while Kohli’s strike rate in knockout fixtures is 124.08, Sharma scores his runs at a strike rate of just 108.79. And, both these batsmen have scored 2 fifties in IPL knockout fixtures. But, what tilts the scales in Kohli’s favor is the fact that he has scored 2 fifties in 11 innings, whereas Sharma has played 19 innings and scored just 2 half-centuries, Clearly, Kohli comes out on top here as well.

In the End

From the above analysis, it is clear that Virat Kohli has fared better in every single parameter as compared to Sharma. Kohli has a better overall IPL record than the ‘Hitman’, has had a greater contribution in an IPL win as compared to the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) skipper, and dwarfs Sharma when the numbers in an IPL run chase are scrutinized.

Even in IPL knockout matches, it is Kohli who manages to outshine Sharma. Both these men are legends in their own ways, but as things stand at the moment, Virat Kohli definitely holds the edge over his illustrious Mumbai Indians’ rival in IPL cricket.

Note: All the stats have been taken from Cricinfo and iplt20.com and have been updated as on 17th September 2021