Virat Kohli, the greatest ODI bat ever?

[Logan]

43 centuries in 230 innings is unreal.

Kohli is either the ODI GOAT or he is going to end up as the ODI GOAT

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

43 centuries in 230 innings is unreal.

Kohli is either the ODI GOAT or he is going to end up as the ODI GOAT

43 in 230 in today's conditions.

 

[h_hurricane]

Yeah, I didn't imagine that Sachin's records will be broken within my lifetime, mainly in ODIs. He is going to easily do it.

And to think about it, he is 5 years younger than Sachin in scoring his 43rd hundred. Never thought some one is going to surpass him by that extent. Unreal player.

 

[Daemon]

Kapil Dev was arguably a better batsman once you adjust for tougher attacks, lower scores, difficult conditions.

 

[h_hurricane]

43 in 230 in today's conditions.

You are giving far too much emphasis on era adjustments.If a player of the past used to score a hundred in 10 innings, it does not mean he will score one in 5 innings these days. Cricket does not work like that. Kohli has lost plenty of opportunities in the recent past because a couple of very good openers batted a good number of overs before he even got a chance to bat. Same could be said about Viv, Ponting or some other great middle order bat.

 

[srbhkshk]

Kapil Dev was arguably a better batsman once you adjust for tougher attacks, lower scores, difficult conditions.

Who do you think was a better batsman between Kapil and Bradman? Pretty hard to split imo.

 

[h_hurricane]

Who do you think was a better batsman between Kapil and Bradman? Pretty hard to split imo.

Probably Kapil. He scored 31 @ 80 strike rate. Bradman 99 @ 65 strike rate. Given that batting was 40% easier in 1980s as compared to 1930s, Kapil just about beats him. Sobers next.

 

[cnerd123]

43 in 230 in today's conditions.

Well he's hardly going to score runs in 1970s conditions is he

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

You are giving far too much emphasis on era adjustments.//
No

If a player of the past used to score a hundred in 10 innings, it does not mean he will score one in 5 innings these days.//
Check Sachin career in different eras

Cricket does not work like that. Kohli has lost plenty of opportunities in the recent past because a couple of very good openers batted a good number of overs before he even got a chance to bat. //
Possible

Same could be said about Viv, Ponting or some other great middle order bat.//

Agreed.

Whatever , it's far more easy now.
Since 2015 , Rohit and kohli scored 22 X 100s . Kohli in 92 innings , Rohit in 91.

A declining ABDV scored 7 X 100s in 49 ,

Warner 15 in 65.

Sachin scored 7 X 100s in last 45 innings iirc.

 

[h_hurricane]

You are giving far too much emphasis on era adjustments.//
No

If a player of the past used to score a hundred in 10 innings, it does not mean he will score one in 5 innings these days.//
Check Sachin career in different eras

Cricket does not work like that. Kohli has lost plenty of opportunities in the recent past because a couple of very good openers batted a good number of overs before he even got a chance to bat. //
Possible

Same could be said about Viv, Ponting or some other great middle order bat.//

Agreed.

Whatever , it's far more easy now.
Since 2015 , Rohit and kohli scored 22 X 100s . Kohli in 92 innings , Rohit in 91.

A declining ABDV scored 7 X 100s in 49 ,

Warner 15 in 65.

Sachin scored 7 X 100s in last 45 innings iirc.

We are talking about Kohli's whole career though. Guys you have mentioned score a hundred in 4-5 innings for a noticeably short period. Kohli has done that for a decade. And ABD was not declining when he left.

 

[Daemon]

ABD declining when he left? Arguably was done at his peak.

 

[h_hurricane]

On the thread topic, we will not have a clear answer until 2023 WC. The big question is, if Virat continues to bat like this for another 3-4 years and then goes on to have a big WC, how many would rate him in the affirmative for the greatest ODI bat ever ? Many would I believe. Many would still prefer Viv.

 

[Logan]

Well he's hardly going to score runs in 1970s conditions is he

ODI cricket was it’s infancy in the 70s. It is completely hypothetical but if Kohli can dominate right now, I believe he can do it back then.

 

[Logan]

Well he's hardly going to score runs in 1970s conditions is he

ODI cricket was it’s infancy in the 70s. It is completely hypothetical but if Kohli can dominate right now, I believe he can do it back then.

On the thread topic, we will not have a clear answer until 2023 WC. The big question is, if Virat continues to bat like this for another 3-4 years and then goes on to have a big WC, how many would rate him in the affirmative for the greatest ODI bat ever ? Many would I believe. Many would still prefer Viv.

The 2023 World Cup wouldn’t change much to me. Viv was the best because he scored runs at a much faster pace than his peers. If Virat breaks Sachin’s 50 centuries and scores about 75 centuries, it is Kohli’s dominance in averages and centuries that would make him the greatest IMO

 

[Bolo]

ABD declining when he left? Arguably was done at his peak.

Na, his peak was done by 2015/ early 2016. A bunch of factors in and around the the world cup smashed him mentally. Skills were still there, but the drive wasn't. He still posted good numbers after that, but he was superhuman in relation to the competition leading up to 2015, and just became one one the pack after.

His last test series might have been his best, but he'd come back from retirement at that point, and only for a couple of series. And you could see where his brain was at that point. Completely focused when it came to winning a couple of big series, dgaf otherwise. No interest in scoring runs at all

 

[Daemon]

Na, his peak was done by 2015/ early 2016. A bunch of factors in and around the the world cup smashed him mentally. Skills were still there, but the drive wasn't. He still posted good numbers after that, but he was superhuman in relation to the competition leading up to 2015, and just became one one the pack after.

His last test series might have been his best, but he'd come back from retirement at that point, and only for a couple of series. And you could see where his brain was at that point. Completely focused when it came to winning a couple of big series, dgaf otherwise. No interest in scoring runs at all

I think if his head was still in it he’d be just as good as the pre WC de Villiers. He just decided to slow down a bit and take it a bit easy. Obviously that cost him a bit of form but he was still at the peak of his prowess if he wanted to be.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

We are talking about Kohli's whole career though. Guys you have mentioned score a hundred in 4-5 innings for a noticeably short period. Kohli has done that for a decade. And ABD was not declining when he left.

2008 onwards
Kohli
43 hundreds in 230 innings
1 hundred in every 5.3 innings

Next 4 batsmen with most hundreds
97 hundreds in 738 innings
1 hundred in every 7.6 innings

Kohli better by 43 %


1992 -2003
Sachin
36 hundreds in 287 innings
1 century in every 7.9 matches

Next 4
76 hundreds in 865 innings
1 century in every 11.38 innings

Sachin better by 43%

That's a TIE .

and ABD started decline by mid 2010s , his numbers became comparable with other top bats.

 

[Bolo]

I think if his head was still in it he’d be just as good as the pre WC de Villiers. He just decided to slow down a bit and take it a bit easy. Obviously that cost him a bit of form but he was still at the peak of his prowess if he wanted to be.

Yes, but in context, the conversation is about stats, and stats relative to era. His stats relative to era nosedived, regardless of rationale.

 

[Pap Finn Keighl]

2008-18

Kohli 59.8 at 92.8
ABD 60.4 at 105.4

Statistically ABD looks far better..
Same as Lara to Dravid or Ponting to chanderpaul .

 

[srbhkshk]

2008-18

Kohli 59.8 at 92.8
ABD 60.4 at 105.4

Statistically ABD looks far better..
Same as Lara to Dravid or Ponting to chanderpaul .

They both needed time to develop their skills, you can't just crop out the beginning period for ABD while not doing the same for Kohli.