World cricket doesn’t have many players like Virat Kohli. He is an all-format player. Virat has 80+ centuries in Tests, ODIs, and T20is. He even has 140+ half-centuries, which is remarkable. If you ask 100 cricket fans who they think is the best player of all time, probably 85 will take his name. But is there anyone better? If you, too, have the question, “who is better than Virat Kohli?” in your mind, get ready to find the answer.
Table of Contents
Virat Kohli Vs ROW—Overall Stats
If you wonder, “who is better cricket player than Virat Kohli,” it is very hard to get an answer. That’s because only a few players in cricket history have better numbers than him in all formats. Virat Kohli is ranked third in the list of most runs scored in Tests, ODIs, and T20s combined.
He has played 550 matches and scored 27,599 runs. He is just 17 runs behind the second spot, which is held by Kumar Sangakkara, who scored 28,016 runs in 594 matches. Virat is ahead of big cricket legends like Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, and more. He is surely chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 34357 runs in all formats.
Who is Better than Kohli—Comparing ODI Stats
Virat has the best average in ODI cricket. He has scored runs at an average of 57.88, more than Sachin Tendulkar, Sangakara, and others. Check the ODI stats below, and you’ll figure out if there is any player better than Virat Kohli:
| Rank | Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | Active Status |
| 1 | SR Tendulkar (IND) | 1989–2012 | 463 | 452 | 41 | 18426 | 200* | 44.83 | 86.23 | 49 | 96 | Retired |
| 2 | KC Sangakkara (Asia/SL) | 2000–2015 | 404 | 380 | 41 | 14234 | 169 | 41.98 | 78.86 | 25 | 93 | Retired |
| 3 | V Kohli (IND) | 2008–2025 | 302 | 290 | 45 | 14181 | 183 | 57.88 | 93.34 | 51 | 74 | Active |
| 4 | RT Ponting (AUS/ICC) | 1995–2012 | 375 | 365 | 39 | 13704 | 164 | 42.03 | 80.39 | 30 | 82 | Retired |
| 5 | ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL) | 1989–2011 | 445 | 433 | 18 | 13430 | 189 | 32.36 | 91.2 | 28 | 68 | Retired |
Who is the Better than Virat Kohli—Comparing Test Stats
The number of runs by King Kohli in Tests is not that great compared to what he can deliver at the highest level. Take a look at the table and you’ll know who is better than him in this format:
| Rank | Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | Active Status |
| 1 | SR Tendulkar (IND) | 1989–2013 | 200 | 329 | 33 | 15921 | 248* | 53.78 | 51 | 68 | Retired |
| 2 | RT Ponting (AUS) | 1995–2012 | 168 | 287 | 29 | 13378 | 257 | 51.85 | 41 | 62 | Retired |
| 3 | JH Kallis (ICC/SA) | 1995–2013 | 166 | 280 | 40 | 13289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45 | 58 | Retired |
| 4 | R Dravid (ICC/IND) | 1996–2012 | 164 | 286 | 32 | 13288 | 270 | 52.31 | 36 | 63 | Retired |
| 5 | JE Root (ENG) | 2012–2024 | 152 | 278 | 23 | 12972 | 262 | 50.87 | 36 | 65 | Active |
| 6 | AN Cook (ENG) | 2006–2018 | 161 | 291 | 16 | 12472 | 294 | 45.35 | 33 | 57 | Retired |
| 7 | KC Sangakkara (SL) | 2000–2015 | 134 | 233 | 17 | 12400 | 319 | 57.4 | 38 | 52 | Retired |
| 8 | BC Lara (ICC/WI) | 1990–2006 | 131 | 232 | 6 | 11953 | 400* | 52.88 | 34 | 48 | Retired |
| 9 | S Chanderpaul (WI) | 1994–2015 | 164 | 280 | 49 | 11867 | 203* | 51.37 | 30 | 66 | Retired |
| 10 | DPMD Jayawardene (SL) | 1997–2014 | 149 | 252 | 15 | 11814 | 374 | 49.84 | 34 | 50 | Retired |
| 11 | AR Border (AUS) | 1978–1994 | 156 | 265 | 44 | 11174 | 205 | 50.56 | 27 | 63 | Retired |
| 12 | SR Waugh (AUS) | 1985–2004 | 168 | 260 | 46 | 10927 | 200 | 51.06 | 32 | 50 | Retired |
| 13 | SPD Smith (AUS) | 2010–2025 | 116 | 206 | 25 | 10271 | 239 | 56.74 | 36 | 41 | Active |
| 14 | SM Gavaskar (IND) | 1971–1987 | 125 | 214 | 16 | 10122 | 236* | 51.12 | 34 | 45 | Retired |
| 15 | Younis Khan (PAK) | 2000–2017 | 118 | 213 | 19 | 10099 | 313 | 52.05 | 34 | 33 | Retired |
| 16 | HM Amla (SA) | 2004–2019 | 124 | 215 | 16 | 9282 | 311* | 46.64 | 28 | 41 | Retired |
| 17 | KS Williamson (NZ) | 2010–2024 | 105 | 186 | 17 | 9276 | 251 | 54.88 | 33 | 37 | Active |
| 18 | GC Smith (ICC/SA) | 2002–2014 | 117 | 205 | 13 | 9265 | 277 | 48.25 | 27 | 38 | Retired |
| 19 | V Kohli (IND) | 2011–2025 | 123 | 210 | 13 | 9230 | 254* | 46.85 | 30 | 31 | Active |
Who is Better than Virat Kohli in Cricket—T20is
Kohli has recently retired from T20 Internationals. Although an anchor-type player, he could shift gears and do aggressive batting whenever required. Post retirement, he is still the batter with the best T20 average. Check it out:
| Rank | Player | Span | Status | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 |
| 1 | RG Sharma (IND) | 2007–2024 | Retired | 159 | 151 | 19 | 4231 | 121* | 32.05 | 140.89 | 5 | 32 |
| 2 | Babar Azam (PAK) | 2016–2024 | Active | 128 | 121 | 15 | 4223 | 122 | 39.83 | 129.22 | 3 | 36 |
| 3 | V Kohli (IND) | 2010–2024 | Retired | 125 | 117 | 31 | 4188 | 122* | 48.69 | 137.04 | 1 | 38 |
| 4 | PR Stirling (IRE) | 2009–2025 | Active | 150 | 147 | 11 | 3656 | 115* | 26.88 | 134.7 | 1 | 24 |
| 5 | JC Buttler (ENG) | 2011–2025 | Active | 134 | 123 | 23 | 3535 | 101* | 35.35 | 146.61 | 1 | 26 |
Who is Better Batsman than Virat Kohli in the IPL?
| Rank | Player | Span | Staus | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 |
| 1 | V Kohli (RCB) | 2008–2025 | Active | 263 | 255 | 40 | 8509 | 113* | 39.57 | 132.6 | 8 | 62 |
| 2 | RG Sharma (DCH/MI) | 2008–2025 | Active | 267 | 262 | 30 | 6921 | 109* | 29.83 | 132 | 2 | 46 |
| 3 | S Dhawan (DC/DCH/MI/PBKS/SRH) | 2008–2024 | Retired | 222 | 221 | 29 | 6769 | 106* | 35.25 | 127.14 | 2 | 51 |
| 4 | DA Warner (DC/SRH) | 2009–2024 | NA | 184 | 184 | 22 | 6565 | 126 | 40.52 | 139.77 | 4 | 62 |
| 5 | SK Raina (CSK/GL) | 2008–2021 | Retired | 205 | 200 | 30 | 5528 | 100* | 32.51 | 136.73 | 1 | 39 |
Virat Kohli Vs Sachin Tendulkar—Overall Stats
Let us compare the stats of Kohli and the great Sachin Tendulkar in all formats:
| Stat | Sachin Tendulkar (ODI) | Virat Kohli (ODI) | Sachin Tendulkar (Test) | Virat Kohli (Test) | Sachin Tendulkar (T20I) | Virat Kohli (T20I) |
| Matches | 463 | 302 | 200 | 123 | 1 | 125 |
| Innings | 452 | 290 | 329 | 210 | 1 | 117 |
| Runs Scored | 18,426 | 14,181 | 15,921 | 9,230 | 10 | 4,188 |
| Highest Score | 200* | 183 | 248* | 254* | 10 | 122* |
| Batting Average | 44.83 | 57.88 | 53.78 | 46.85 | 10 | 48.69 |
| Not Outs | 41 | 45 | 33 | 13 | 0 | 31 |
| Strike Rate | 86.23 | 93.34 | – | 55.57 | 83.33 | 137.04 |
| 100s | 49 | 51 | 51 | 30 | 0 | 1 |
| 50s | 96 | 74 | 68 | 31 | 0 | 38 |
Virat Kohli Vs Steve Smith—Overall Stats
Virat or Steve Smith, who is better in the game’s longer format? Read the table and you’ll get an idea:
| Stat | Steve Smith (Test) | Virat Kohli (Test) | Steve Smith (ODI) | Virat Kohli (ODI) | Steve Smith (T20I) | Virat Kohli (T20I) |
| Matches | 116 | 123 | 170 | 302 | 67 | 125 |
| Innings | 206 | 210 | 154 | 290 | 55 | 117 |
| Runs Scored | 10,271 | 9,230 | 5,800 | 14,181 | 1,094 | 4,188 |
| Highest Score | 239 | 254* | 164 | 183 | 90 | 122* |
| Batting Average | 56.74 | 46.85 | 43.28 | 57.88 | 24.86 | 48.69 |
| Not Outs | 25 | 13 | 20 | 45 | 11 | 31 |
| Strike Rate | 53.56 | 55.57 | 86.96 | 93.34 | 125.45 | 137.04 |
| 100s | 36 | 30 | 12 | 51 | 0 | 1 |
| 50s | 41 | 31 | 35 | 74 | 5 | 38 |
Virat Kohli Vs Rohit Sharma—Overall Stats
Who is better than Virat Kohli in India? Is it Rohit Sharma? Read as we compare the stats of both.
| Stat | Rohit Sharma (Test) | Virat Kohli (Test) | Rohit Sharma (ODI) | Virat Kohli (ODI) | Rohit Sharma (T20I) | Virat Kohli (T20I) |
| Matches | 67 | 123 | 273 | 302 | 159 | 125 |
| Innings | 116 | 210 | 265 | 290 | 151 | 117 |
| Runs Scored | 4,301 | 9,230 | 11,168 | 14,181 | 4,231 | 4,188 |
| Highest Score | 212 | 254* | 264 | 183 | 121* | 122* |
| Batting Average | 40.57 | 46.85 | 48.76 | 57.88 | 32.05 | 48.69 |
| Not Outs | 10 | 13 | 36 | 45 | 19 | 31 |
| Strike Rate | 57.05 | 55.57 | 92.8 | 93.34 | 140.89 | 137.04 |
| 100s | 12 | 30 | 32 | 51 | 5 | 1 |
| 50s | 18 | 31 | 58 | 74 | 32 | 38 |
Virat Kohli Vs Rohit Sharma—Captaincy Record
| Stat | Virat Kohli (ODI) | Rohit Sharma (ODI) | Virat Kohli (Test) | Rohit Sharma (Test) | Virat Kohli (T20I) | Rohit Sharma (T20I) |
| Matches Captained | 95 | 56 | 66 | 24 | 50 | 62 |
| Matches Won | 65 | 42 | 40 | 12 | 30 | 49 |
| Matches Lost | 27 | 12 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 12 |
| Win Percentage | 68.42% | 75.00% | 61.53% | 50% | 60% | 79% |
Final Words
In international cricket, Virat Kohli is a big name. He is a top class batsman who has scored thousands of runs in all three formats. Virat has also captained India and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and his records are great. Yes, you will hardly find a better batsman than him. However, there are a few players who have slightly better stats in different formats.
For example, Sachin Tendulkar has a better number of One-Day Internationals. Joe Root, Alastair Cook, and Steve Smith seem better in Tests, while Rohit Sharma ranks number one in T20Is.
Now, it’s not always fair to compare players from different generations. But we made this comparison to help our readers see who has the better numbers. Still, remember this—just stats don’t always show a player’s greatness. And we all know that Virat Kohli is one of the greatest cricketers ever.
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FAQs
Who is better player than Virat Kohli?
Virat Kohli is one of the greatest cricket players of this generation. According to stats, only Sachin Tendulkar is a better player than Virat Kohli based on the total number of runs scored across three formats.
Who is better than Virat Kohli in ODI?
As of 2025, only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have more ODI runs than Virat Kohli in ODIs.