Stats Comparison: Vivian Richards vs Virat Kohli

Vivian Richards Stats

Virat Kohli Stats

Let’s look at the different points of debate

Strike Rate Showdown: Who's the Faster Scorer?

One of the most important aspects of playing aggressive cricket is the strike rate at which the batter is batting in the innings. The strike rate determines how aggressive the batter is being. Vivian Richards had an incredible strike rate in both Test Cricket and ODI Cricket. In Test Cricket he played 121 Matches and in these Matches he had a strike rate of 86.07. It will be good to remember that Sir Vivian Richards played in a time where there were no helmets to protect the batters. He was playing with lighter bats as compared to today and there were no rules for the bowlers. He scored more than 8500 runs in Test Cricket in less than 10000 balls. The bowlers used to be afraid of him as he had an answer to everything. In ODI Cricket, Viv Richards had a strike rate of 90.20. He played 187 ODI Matches and made 6721 Runs. Here you can see Best Vivian Richards innings

Virat Kohli is a traditional Test Match batter. He does not have the strike rate of Viv Richards in Test Cricket. He has a strike rate of 55.56 in the 113 Test Matches he has played so far. In Test Cricket, Viv Richards is far ahead from Virat Kohli in terms of playing aggressive cricket. However in ODI Cricket it is a little different. Virat Kohli has played 292 ODIs so far and he has made almost 14000 runs at a strike rate of 93.59. In ODI Cricket there is not much to separate these two greats in terms of strike rate.

Different Eras, Different Challenges

Viv Richards and Virat Kohli are from two completely different generations of cricket. Viv Richards was the best batter and the most respected in the 1970s and the 1980s. That was the era of the fast bowlers and they were growing in size in all the major cricketing nations. Fortunately the best fast bowlers were in the same team as Viv so he did not have to face them. The pitches were not as well laid then as they are now. ODI Cricket was 60 overs for a number of years. Test Cricket had no rules and everything was allowed. For Vivian Richards to do that in that era is simply astonishing. He had a swagger and an arrogance that he was the best and that he would not get out. He played against the likes of Richard Hadlee, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Wasim Akram etc.

Virat Kohli started playing cricket in 2008. It has been 16 years and he is still the best batter in the world. Virat Kohli had the facility of helmets since the start of his batting career. Test Cricket was seeing more rules but still in Test Cricket, Virat Kohli has not been as aggressive. Virender Sehwag from India was the modern day equivalent of Viv Richards. It is difficult to compare different eras but Virat Kohli had to not face some of the deadliest fast bowlers and in some of the most challenging pitches. This factor makes the achievements of Sir Vivian Richards extraordinary.

Century Counts: A Battle of Hundreds

In Test Cricket, Viv Richards has scored 24 Hundreds. Out of these 24 Hundreds, 11 have been made in the West Indies. The highest score by Viv Richards in West Indies was 182*. He has made 13 hundreds in overseas conditions which means more than 50% of his Test hundreds have come outside of the West Indies. In ODI Cricket, Viv Richards has made 11 centuries and all of them have come in overseas conditions. His highest score in ODI Cricket is 189*. He has scored 35 hundreds in international cricket.

Virat Kohli is a totally different beast when it comes to scoring hundreds. He has hit 82 International Hundreds in international cricket. Virat Kohli has hit 51 ODI Hundreds and 24 of them have come In India. His highest ODI score in Is 166*. He has hit 26 hundreds in overseas conditions and his highest overseas ODI score is 183. In Test Cricket, Virat Kohli has hit 30 hundreds. Out of these , Virat Kohli has hit 14 hundreds In India and 15 abroad. His highest Test score in India is 254*. Virat Kohli still plays ODI Cricket. While he already retired from Test and T20I Cricket.

The Legacy Factor: Who's Impactful?

The Word Legacy In sport is something that is very important. It means how the fans from the generations after they have played will remember them. Vivian Richards is still regarded as one of the best ever to play cricket. He was the batter that taught the world that Test Cricket can be played aggressively. All that is required are the necessary skills and the confidence. Viv Richards has been a batting hero to Sachin Tendulkar. He has changed the way cricket is played and that can only be said for the rarest of rare people. Even Virat Kohli was inspired by Viv Richards in how to bat aggressively.

Virat Kohli has cemented himself as the best ODI batter of all time. After Sachin Tendulkar, the Indian fans thought about who will take his place and Virat Kohli has done more than that. He even takes singles and doubles in a way that shows that he is aggressive in his mindset. He lets the opposition know that he is here to stay and win the match for India. Virat Kohli can play more aggressively in Test Cricket and take his strike rate beyond 80. The legacy of both Viv Richards and Virat Kohli will be that they brought back the flair, the swagger and the confidence along with the aggressive batting.