Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma – The Stalwarts of ODI World Cup 2023

The most competent batters go head-to-head as we look at Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma unique analysis of their stats in the ODI World Cup. 

It was Wankhede when India won the ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka in 2011. 12 years later, the two teams, India and Sri Lanka meet exactly at the same venue. The venue is the same, but the challenge is different. In 2011, both teams were evenly matched, but in 2023, one is flying high, and the other is almost out of the Semis race. 

While both the teams meet for yet another clash, the focus will be on the two stalwarts of the Indian team, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While Virat Kohli was a part of the 2011 WC, Rohit wasn’t. But coincidently, both the players have a similar number of runs; albeit in a different number of innings.

So, as we wait for the clash to begin, how about we look at the performance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they go head-to-head in the ODI World Cup? For the simplicity of the analysis, we shall break down the stats into Overall, Against Top-ranked Teams, Against Low-ranked Teams, and Knockouts. 

Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli in ODI World Cup – Overall Stats

If we look at the overall numbers between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI World Cup, they have similar number of runs. While Virat Kohli has 1384 runs under his belt, Rohit Sharma has 1376 runs under his belt. However, what separates Rohit from Virat is the number of innings. While Kohli has played 32 innings, Rohit has only played 23 innings. 

In addition, Rohit Sharma has scored these runs at an average of 65.5 and a strike rate of 101.7. Whereas Virat Kohli has scored these runs at an average of 53.2 and a strike rate of 87.2. Overall, Rohit and Kohli, both have 12 fifty+ scores in the ODI World Cups. However, once again, Rohit has 7 centuries as compared to 3 from Virat Kohli. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI World Cup vs Top Teams

If we compare the performance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma against top-ranked teams, i.e. Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, and South Africa, we get a similar picture to overall numbers. Virat has scored 636 runs from 16 innings at an average of 39.8 and a strike rate of 83. Virat’s best performance comes against Pakistan where he has scored 209 runs from 4 innings at an average of 52.5. 

Coming to Rohit Sharma, he has scored 690 runs from 12 innings at an average of 57.5 and a strike rate of 95.3. Rohit’s best performance comes against England where he has scored 189 runs from just 2 innings at an average of 94.5. Overall, both Rohit and Virat have 6 fifty+ scores against top-ranked teams. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI World Cup vs Low Teams

Coming to the performance against all the other teams, Virat has 748 runs from 16 innings at an average of 46.8 and a strike rate of 90.9. In comparison, Rohit has 686 runs from 11 innings at an average of 62.4 and a strike rate of 109. Similar to the above, both have 6 fifty+ scores against all the other teams. 

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI World Cup Knockouts

Finally, talking about the performance in Knockouts, Virat has only 73 runs from 6 innings at an average of 12.2 and a strike rate of 56.2. He has a highest score of 35, which came in the 2011 World Cup final. Rohit in comparison has been good in Knockouts. He has scored 172 runs from 3 innings at an average of 57.3 and a strike rate of 96.6. 

Concluding the analysis, the overall numbers look good for both, Virat and Rohit. However, Rohit’s performance against top-ranked teams and Knockouts separates him from Virat, who is yet to replicate his overall form in these two categories. Hopefully, both come good in the upcoming matches of the ODI World Cup including the Semis and Final. 

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