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A leg-spinner turned number one Test batsman versus a chubby face turned number one ODI batsman.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith and Virat King Captain Kohli have already made a stunning imprint on the game of cricket. Comparisons are a bad habit of cricket writers, but it sure makes for a satisfying read.
The comparison begins in a traditional fashion, in what is traditionally the symbol of this wonderful game: Tests.
Now you must be thinking, “Oh! Come on, we know the winner here has to be Smith! Average of nearly 60 with 20 hundreds for Smith, and Kohli struggling at an average of 50 with 17 hundreds”.
Just hold your thoughts. Being the Kohli supporter, I, like every statistician, will ensure I give my best to find stats to prove you wrong.
I’d like to think that Kohli has been formidable ever since he has taken over the captaincy, but wait – Smith averages a mammoth 69 as captain, and Kohli is once again struggling at 60. Guess who is savouring the power.
Now I’m thinking, “Maybe Smith has played in conditions that have allowed him to score big runs”. I mean, admit it – Australian pitches are batting beauties and Indian pitches are venomous serpents that on the fourth day are no better than my backyard pitch!
Now here comes an interesting stat. Since 2014, when both these players made their debut, the average runs scored per wicket in Australia is 37.6 compared to the mere 31.1 in the India. This means that in the 60-odd matches that these two have played, Kohli could have had another 390 runs for himself.
I have failed once again to prove Kohli’s superiority. What next?
Well, I guess it is time to admit that Smith is undoubtedly a better Test batsman than Kohli, who has yet to prove himself in English conditions, where Smith scored his first Test hundred at the Oval.
I started this article thinking I’d compare the ODIs and T20s too, but let’s leave the best for last.
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