Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes are two of the most well-known players in world cricket. Kohli is known for his strong batting, while Stokes is a powerful all-rounder who can change the game with both bat and ball. They have played against each other many times in different formats.
This article looks at how they have performed against each other, using head-to-head stats to see who has done better in their battles.
Virat Kohli vs Ben Stokes Head-to-Head Stats Summary
Across formats, Virat Kohli has scored 370 runs off 473 balls against Ben Stokes. Stokes has dismissed Kohli 10 times, with Kohli hitting 44 fours and no sixes. He has played 281 dot balls in this matchup.
Format | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s/6s | Avg | SR |
Test | 223 | 344 | 6 | 235 | 33/0 | 37.2 | 64.8 |
ODI | 91 | 98 | 3 | 42 | 9/0 | 30.3 | 92.9 |
T20I | 32 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0/2 | - | 133.3 |
Twenty20 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2/0 | 14.0 | 200.0 |
Total | 370 | 473 | 10 | 281 | 44/0 | - | - |
Kohli vs Stokes: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in Test Cricket
In Test cricket, Kohli has scored 223 runs from 344 balls and has been dismissed 6 times by Stokes. He has faced 235 dot balls, hit 33 fours, and maintained an average of 37.2 and a strike rate of 64.8.
Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Avg | SR |
2014 | 12 | 26 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 0 | - | 46.2 |
2016 | 88 | 128 | 1 | 84 | 13 | 0 | 88.0 | 68.8 |
2018 | 98 | 151 | 2 | 101 | 13 | 0 | 49.0 | 64.9 |
2021 | 24 | 32 | 2 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 12.0 | 75.0 |
2022 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 14.3 |
Total | 223 | 344 | 6 | 235 | 33 | 0 | 37.2 | 64.8 |
Kohli vs Stokes: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in ODI Cricket
In ODIs, Kohli has scored 91 runs off 98 balls, with 3 dismissals. He has hit 9 fours, played 42 dot balls, and has a strike rate of 92.9 with an average of 30.3.
Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Avg | SR |
2014 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 62.5 |
2017 | 17 | 23 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 8.5 | 73.9 |
2018 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 0 | - | 100.0 |
2019 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 137.5 |
2021 | 18 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | - | 94.7 |
Total | 91 | 98 | 3 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 30.3 | 92.9 |
Kohli vs Stokes: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in T20I Cricket
In T20Is, Kohli has scored 32 runs from 24 balls without being dismissed by Stokes. He has hit 2 sixes, faced just 3 dot balls, and has a strong strike rate of 133.3.
Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Avg | SR |
2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 100.0 |
2018 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 66.7 |
2021 | 24 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | - | 171.4 |
2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 100.0 |
Total | 32 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | 133.3 |
Kohli vs Stokes: Year-by-Year Head to Head Stats in IPL
In T20 leagues like the IPL, Kohli has scored 14 runs off 7 balls, with 1 dismissal. He hit 2 fours, played 1 dot ball, and has a strike rate of 200.0, averaging 14.0.
Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | Avg | SR |
2017 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 50.0 |
2018 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 260.0 |
Total | 14 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14.0 | 200.0 |
Verdict: Virat Kohli vs Ben Stokes Who Has the Edge?
Ben Stokes has had more success against Virat Kohli in the longer formats, dismissing him six times in Tests and three times in ODIs. In particular, he’s kept Kohli’s average modest in both formats — 37.2 in Tests and 30.3 in ODIs — suggesting he’s been effective when bowling to him.
However, in T20Is and T20 leagues, the tables turn. Kohli has scored 46 runs off 31 balls without being dismissed even once and at a combined strike rate of over 150, showing clear dominance in the shortest format.
Stokes holds it in red-ball and 50-over cricket, but Kohli is comfortably ahead in T20s. Overall, the rivalry is fairly even, but format-wise, each player has had their zone of control.
Must Read |
