Indian skipper Virat Kohli is currently monstering England and stamping himself as the best batsman in the world.
In the first four Tests of a five-Test series, he has plundered 640 runs at an average of 128.
His most recent innings – a career high 235 at Mumbai – has taken his average beyond 50 for the first time in his 52-Test career.
It was his third double century this year, following 211 against New Zealand and 200 versus West Indies.
He now averages over 50 in all three forms of the international game.
It is a unique feat that no other batsman is close to achieving. A comparison with the overall records of Kohli’s leading contemporaries illustrates his current standing in the game.
| Batsman | Test average | ODI average | T20I average |
| Virat Kohli | 50.5 | 52.9 | 57.1 |
| Steve Smith | 57.5 | 42.3 | 21.6 |
| Joe Root | 52.9 | 45.7 | 37.5 |
| AB de Villiers | 50.5 | 53.6 | 23.6 |
| Hashim Amla | 50.1 | 51.3 | 31.5 |
| Kane Williamson | 49.4 | 46.3 | 34.5 |
| David Warner | 48.1 | 43.1 | 28.1 |
Having turned 28 years of age last month, Kohli is in his prime as a batsman and is performing accordingly.
Since assuming the Test captaincy, he has averaged 65.5 in his 21 matches at the helm.
Kohli first made his name at one-day international level, playing 59 ODIs before he received his Test call-up in June 2011.
He had a relatively modest start at Test level, averaging 39.5 through his first 29 appearances.
However, since that point just over two years ago, he has averaged 65 and struck nine centuries in 23 Tests.
Kohli is very much the modern-day Indian player, given he is prepared to get in the face of the likes of the Australian team.
Previously, generations of Indian players were intimidated on the ground when confronted by more aggressive opponents.
Kohli is no shrinking violet and is not intimidated by such tactics.
Indeed, his most successful series to date came in Australia in 2014-15, when he reeled off four centuries in as many Tests, scoring 692 runs at 86.5.
Kohli’s air of confidence and bravado at times rankled the Australians.
If there is one question mark over Kohli at Test level, it is the disparity between his record at home and his record away.
In India, he averages 59. While away, his average drops to 44.6.
Interestingly, he averages 62 in Australia and 68 in South Africa, countries where the pitches are traditionally diametrically opposed to the ones he was raised, and still plays on, in India.
His Achilles heel has been England, where his five Tests have realised an average of just 13.4.
It was immediately following that series in mid-2014 that his career took off at Test level.
He has yet to return to England but it is a safe bet that when he does he will do far better second time around.
While Steve Smith is anything but orthodox, and in short form cricket AB de Villiers can produce shots few can, Kohli has principally scored his runs in all three formats with a pure technique.
With the typical coiled wrists that are a trademark of so many Indian batsmen, Kohli scores freely all around the wicket. His legside play, in particular, has a silken quality about it.
Australia will face a Kohli-led side when it ventures to India in February. Quelling the Indian skipper will be at the forefront of Smith’s mind.
If history is any indicator, having scored six centuries and averaged 60.8 in 12 Tests against Australia, he will not be an easy man to tame.
Matt
Guest
De villiers is best batting without pressure. Tell me one innings he played under pressurre? Kohli has already played probably atleast 10 such innings which player feel lucky to play one of those in there career.
Matt
Guest
Wat about shane warne,dennis lille they never performed in india? Muralidharan is a another one he was average in india and australia. Why is kohli singled out for 5 test matches of his career??
Aransan
Guest
Many players can develop good techniques but Kohli, Smith, Root and Warner have great natural talent.
Matt
Guest
Mate . What are you talking about?? Why would india refuse to play in perth? They won a test in perth in 2008. Opposite to popular belief that india struggles when pitch has something, this actually makes there bowlers potent to take 20 wickets. Only tests they have won overseas are in bowler friendly conditions. Such as wanderers,lords, perth..
Liam
Guest
Little bit lazy. As far as I'm concerned, we used to value a tough competitor here. We used to celebrate well made runs and good bowling; a significant part of last summer was the nostalgia and sadness felt at watching a sub par West Indies getting smashed, remembering the giants they once were. We've seen people furious at Australia's lacklustre showing against South Africa, despite it clearly being at least in part due to a terrific young quick in Rabada, and Philander showing his mettle for the first time on Australian soil. Kohli is a tough competitor. I'm not going to buy into the current 'greatest ever' hyperbole; he could go down as one of the greatest ever, but he needs to be tested in bowling conditions away from home first. We used to admire that about an opponent, respect their desire to win, to defend one's team and country. Kohli is exactly that. He plays cricket hard, he sledges, and he bats with the borderline arrogance we used to enjoy when it was Viv Richards or Matthew Hayden batting. In short, Kohli plays like the greatest cricketers of the prior generation played. He plays like an Australian. Really sick of hearing that we don't like him because he does something we did or have done for years.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"i am also looking forward to an australian player scoring 600 runs in 4 tests in the coming tour. in india." So am I Aaditya (but I'm not holding my breath).
Rabbits
Guest
Kohli is in great form but surely Steve Smith deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the Indian captain. He's got a better test average and is in charge of a team that is going through a transition period in terms of cementing a decent batting order with the only other batsman of any note in the Aussie top 7 being David Warner.
Rats
Guest
These are golden worlds - "Technique is needed to defend the good ball, select the bad ball & deal with it, position self at the crease and place the ball to rotate the strike." Thank You, Colin. If you see above list, all of these players have some flaws. But not technical flaws.. Kohli - Swinging conditions, ball outside off stump, 4th/5th stump. Have got out so many times due to poor shot selection. Smith - Gives you an impression, he can get out LBW almost every ball he faces by playing across. Root - Clear weakness against spinners when the ball is at driving length. Again poor shot selection. But these guys overcome all of this and score big and consistent. Whereas someone like Pujara, Vijay, or may be even S Marsh who look technically text book correct in terms of technique. But inconsistent.. And no where close to the above mentioned guys.
spruce moose
Guest
What is indicative though is that he scored all those runs, smith scored all those runs and no one else did. It wasn't the pitches, it was two superstar batsman going head to head. Smith won the stat sheet, Kohli was pound for pound better by virtue of being the visiting batsman.
Simoc
Guest
Kohli looks to be the bast batsman ever. Great technique, and a great range of exquisite shots. Previously I thought Lara who was also supreme but without the sheer class of Kohlis shots all around the wicket. Why our batsman don't copy his style is beyond me? We only have Warner that is on the same page for technique.
Graham Spalding
Roar Rookie
I think South Africa were also unhappy about the same thing when there was a slow turner against India at Kingsmead, Durban, in a 2 match series. Think it was Kallis' last match and a painfully slow but ultimately match winning hundred, even by Kallis standards
American Dave
Guest
It seems a more accurate view would be those who can post the scores on the road. Changing conditions, not the conditions themselves, will always be the litmus test.
Aaditya Aggarwal
Guest
There's no question that kohli will have to perform in england to tick all the boxes. But he has played some incredible knocks this home season and to take them lightly will be a mistake.However i am also looking forward to an australian player scoring 600 runs in 4 tests in the coming tour. in india.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
I think we need to wait until he tours England again to make that call Glenn. I remember after his tour of England many bitterly disappointed Indian fans, who were posting on international forums, were condemning him as a flat track bully. Jimmy Anderson may have a similar view. If he can score well on seaming decks then I will agree that he is the best. Until then, the jury is still out.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Fair call on VVS , Perry, I think I am letting love blind me in making the claim for idolised Laxman. He was not only a batsman of unparalleled beauty but so puristic as well. As for Kohli, he has been exceptional and has that 'mongrel' in him, a trait that is very Un-Indian for they have often been viewed as 'too nice.' he might go past Tendulkar's reputation, but i still see Gavaskar as India's greatest ever and he will never get to the feats that icon achieved. The key one giving India credibility In this age, Sunny would have averaged 75, no doubt at all
Dreadly
Guest
Clearly? No, don't think so. In a group of 5 or 6 players near the top. Williamson, Root, Smith, ABDV etc
Perry Bridge
Guest
VVS only excelled against Australia!!!! For me Kohli over the last 2 years in test cricket - he's converting to big 200s, and important ones too. His capacity to excel in all formats and that includes all formats in pretty well all locations - he is likely to have a next 3-5 years that will cement his reputation and kill off debate. Better than Tendulker is a high possibility and in part because he seems to have a little bit more 'mongrel' in him.
Colin Trevena
Guest
The key word in this article is "technique". Any style of play still needs good basic technique be it batting, bowling or fielding but as this article is about a batsman (not a batter - who coined that term?) the following is my appreciation of some associated technique deficiencies I have noted when watching recent 1st class batsmen. When players master the basics they need to remember them and keep remembering. Technique is needed to defend the good ball, select the bad ball & deal with it, position self at the crease and place the ball to rotate the strike. Technique is required to call or reject a partner's call for a run clearly and decisively. It is also needed when running between wickets, not turning blindly. Overall, a good technique will stamp a player with qualities to make their team successful because those qualities should be recognised by less successful team members and applied to their own style of play.
Jake
Guest
"England, where his five Tests have realised an average of just 13.4." yeh, he's tops. Root, Smith, Williamson, DeVilliers, Warner, De Kock are are all superior.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
SA cricket doesn't have the same pull as the BCCI, and yet CA still always seems to include a WACA test for the South African's despite that being their best Australian ground. If decisions were made from the point of view of maximising chances of a home victory, we'd never play SA at the WACA. But from a commercial point of view it makes sense. Lots of expat South African's in Perth, plus a timezone that probably works better for SA also, and they always play there. Whether pressure is exerted or not it's hard to know, but certainly money talks, and if those decisions result in more money coming in CA will make that call.