Legendary Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have often been referred to as the greatest ever players in the 50-over format. However, Kohli has always been a step ahead in the format than Rohit, and the former RCBian reveals the real reason behind it.
Indian greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are both once-in-a-generation players, and their stats have proven again and again why they are known as two of the greatest white-ball players of modern times.
Virat Kohli is the second-highest run-getter in the 50-over format and now also the second-highest run-getter in international cricket history, while Rohit Sharma remains one of the greatest openers in the game and has a huge tally of runs at the top.
Why is Virat Kohli better than Rohit Sharma in ODIs? Former RCBian reveals
Virat Kohli, since the final ODI at the SCG, has managed to score 469 runs in his last 5 matches and averages over 150, with a very handy strike rate of over 100. He also scored three half-centuries and two centuries in these 5 games.
After Kohli scored a stunning 93 during India’s win in Vadodara, former RCB cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Virat Kohli has a very impressive conversion rate, which extends his legacy ahead of the Indian opener Rohit Sharma.
“Virat Kohli converts starts. A score of 30 or 40 means he will stay till the end, win the match, and, if he gets into form, become consistent. That is why, in ODI cricket, Virat Kohli has always been ahead of Rohit Sharma. He consistently scores runs and plays big innings. You could see it when Virat Kohli got out in the first ODI; he was shaking his head, clearly thinking he played the wrong shot,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Conversion rates of the two Indian greats – Comparative Study
In an illustrious career that has spanned several years, Kohli has crossed the 50-run mark 130 times throughout his career. Flexing the record of the most centuries in the world in international One-day cricket as well as international white-ball cricket, Kohli has 53 centuries.
Kohli has managed to take his conversion rate to as high as 40.76 percent, while he has been dismissed eight times in the nervous nineties. Rohit, on the other hand, has managed to score 94 fifty-plus scores and has 33 centuries in his ODI career. This makes his conversion rate slightly lower than Kohli’s, which is 35.10.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will star next in Rajkot
India are currently playing against New Zealand in their three-match home series in the 50-over format. Virat Kohli started off well and set the innings going as he helped India to a win with a 93.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma also managed a convincing start with a quick 29 runs; however, he could not convert it into a big total and was dismissed in the power play by Kyle Jamieson.
The second ODI is scheduled to be played in Rajkot, a ground that offers several runs to batters and hence, Rohit might look forward to flexing his muscles and getting a few of those biggies here.
