Great Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are often cited as the greatest players in the 50-over format. However, Kohli has always been one step ahead of Rohit in this format and the former RCB player has revealed the real reason behind it.
India greats Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are both once-in-a-generation players, and their statistics have proven time and again why they are known as two of the greatest white-ball players of modern times.
Virat Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer in the 50-over format and is now also the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, while Rohit Sharma remains one of the greatest openers in the game and has a huge tally of runs at the top.
Why is Virat Kohli better than Rohit Sharma in ODI? Former RCB player revealed
Since the last ODI at the SCG, Virat Kohli has managed to score 469 runs in his last 5 matches and has an average of over 150, along with a strike rate of over 100. He has also scored three half-centuries and two centuries in these 5 matches.
After Kohli’s brilliant 93-run knock during India’s win in Vadodara, former RCB cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Virat Kohli’s conversion rate is very impressive, taking his legacy ahead of Indian opener Rohit Sharma.
Kaif said on his YouTube channel, “Virat Kohli converts starts into goals. A score of 30 or 40 means he will stay till the end, win the match and if he gets in form, he will be consistent. That is why Virat Kohli has always been ahead of Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket. He constantly scores runs and plays big innings. You could see it when Virat Kohli got out in the first ODI; he was shaking his head, clearly thinking that he had got it wrong. The shot has been played.”
Conversion Rates of Two Indian Greats – Comparative Study
In his illustrious career spanning many years, Kohli has crossed the 50-run mark 130 times throughout his career. Breaking the record for most centuries in the world in international ODI cricket as well as international white ball cricket, Kohli has 53 centuries to his name.
Kohli has managed to take his conversion rate to 40.76 per cent, while he has been out eight times in the nervous nineties. On the other hand, Rohit has managed to score more than 94 fifties in his ODI career and has 33 centuries to his name. This makes his conversion rate slightly lower than Kohli’s, which is 35.10.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will play the next innings in Rajkot
India are currently playing against New Zealand in their three-match home series in the 50-over format. Virat Kohli started well and led the innings and scored 93 runs to lead India to victory.
Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, also made a solid start with a quickfire 29; However, he could not convert it into a big score and was dismissed by Kyle Jamieson in the power play.
The second ODI is scheduled to be played in Rajkot, a ground that offers a lot of runs to the batsmen and hence, Rohit might be keen to flex his muscles here and get some of those big wickets.
Also read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma’s domestic comeback shakes up Indian cricket as Mumbai and Delhi players highlight real impact
