The debate over Virat Kohli vs Joe Root is one that refuses to fade, and it was reignited recently on Michael Vaughan’s podcast, “Stick to Cricket”. Vaughan posed the question to his co-hosts: Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, asking them to choose between Kohli and Root based on parameters like run-scoring, captaincy, consistency, and big-match performances.
When the discussion focused on all-format impact, the verdict was clear. All the former England stars eventually leaned towards Virat Kohli, acknowledging his dominance across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, particularly in high-pressure situations.
However, the conversation took a turn when consistency became the talking point. Vaughan and his co-hosts argued that Joe Root never experienced a dip like Kohli, suggesting that Root’s form had been steadier over the years.
That claim, though, doesn’t fully hold up when examined through numbers.
There’s no denying that Virat Kohli went through a lean phase in Test cricket between 2020 and 2022, where centuries dried up. But even during that period, his white-ball numbers remained strong.
In ODIs, Kohli averaged 43+ in both 2021 and 2022. In T20Is, his numbers were even more impressive — averaging 75 in 2021 and 56 in 2022, including standout performances in global tournaments. That’s hardly a complete decline.
Joe Root’s overall Test record is excellent, but his career hasn’t been without downturns. Between 2018 and 2020, Root failed to average 45 in Test cricket across three consecutive years.
In ODIs, the dip was even sharper. Root averaged just 21 in 2020, 20 in 2022, and 24 in 2023. His presence in T20 internationals has also been minimal, having not played the format regularly since 2019.
So, the idea that Root never had a dip, while Kohli did, is an oversimplification.
When comparing legacy, the numbers paint a wider gap. Virat Kohli has 85 international centuries, while Joe Root has 60. Kohli’s influence across formats, his performances in big matches, and his leadership during India’s most successful white-ball era give him an edge that statistics alone don’t fully capture.
The England legends’ opinions add an interesting layer to the debate, but once the data is laid out, the conversation becomes more balanced.
Ultimately, whether you pick Virat Kohli or Joe Root depends on what you value more, longevity in one format or impact across all three. And that’s what makes this debate timeless.
