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If you've ever sat around with cricket fans debating who's the Greatest of All Time in this generation, chances are Virat Kohli was at the center of it. Some swear by Babar Azam's elegance, others won't hear a word against AB de Villiers' 360-degree genius, while MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar always remain iconic benchmarks. But how does Kohli measure up against these legends? Let's go over this contrast in detail.
Babar Azam, Pakistan's batting maestro, has been dubbed the modern-day successor to Kohli and Smith. With around 11,000 T20 runs at a strike rate of over 129 and an ODI average of 55.17, Babar has often drawn statistical parallels to Kohli's early years. He has been the fastest to score 1,000 runs in T20Is and one of the quickest to 5,000 in ODIs.
Though Babar's brilliance and elegance are undeniable but Kohli's durability and ability to win games stand out. Kohli is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of ODI centuries, and has been essential in high-stress chases. Despite his grace, Babar has yet to show himself in important World Cup or knockout situations, like Kohli has done over and again.
Verdict: Babar is a modern-day great in the making, but Kohli's adaptability, experience, and consistent dominance across formats give him the advantage for now.
Many people refer to Sachin Tendulkar as the "God of Cricket." He continues to hold the record for most runs in both Tests (15,921) and ODIs (18,426) with 100 international hundreds. In contrast, Kohli has less hundreds but a higher ODI average (58.67) and a higher strike rate in white-ball cricket.
AB de Villiers, the "360-degree player," was perhaps the most innovative batter of his generation. His strike rate of 101.09 in ODIs, and his record for the fastest ODI century (31 balls), make him arguably the most feared batter at his peak. He was capable of both destroying bowlers in T20 cricket and playing classic Test knocks. However, he doesnt match Kohli in longevity because he retired early in 2018.
In this three-way comparison:
Sachin wins on legacy and overall numbers.
AB wins on versatility and strike power.
Kohli balances both – with world-class stats, pressure-handling ability, and supreme fitness.
Verdict: Kohli stands between Sachin's legacy and AB's innovation-perhaps not the best in any one thing, but the most complete package of all.
MS Dhoni is undoubtedly India's most successful captain, having led the country to three ICC trophies: the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy. As a hitter, Dhoni had an ODI average of 50.57 with his finishing powers being unparallel, particularly between 2006 and 2013.
Kohli, on the other hand, has a much better Test record and significantly more international hundreds. While Dhoni led from behind the stumps with calmness and tactical brilliance, Kohli brought passion and aggression, especially in Test cricket, where he took India to the top of the world rankings.
As a batter:
Dhoni was the finisher, calm in chaos.
Kohli is the chaser, masterful in pressure.
As a leader:
Dhoni's astute leadership has transformed white-ball cricket.
Kohli, on the other hand, brought India's speed attack back to life and made the team competitive in Test matches abroad.
Verdict: While Dhoni wears the crown of captaincy trophy and memorable memories, Kohli has better individual stats and a stronger Test record.
Even in 2025, Virat Kohli remains among the world's best, thanks to:
Unmatched fitness: He has revolutinized the player fitness concept in India which is visible from the fact that he is still performing at the highest level at the age of 36.
Chase masterclass: Kohli has the highest ODI average of over 90 in chases and has scored 26 hundreds while batting second.
Test revivalist: He is the one to introduce aggression and pace supremacy to Indian Test cricket, particularly overseas.
White-ball consistency: Despite evolving formats, Kohli's class remains untouched and he continues scoring heavily in T20 leagues like the IPL.
His recent achievements, notably a match-winning century against Australia in 2024 and another successful IPL season with RCB, show that Kohli is far from finished.
Every comparison between Kohli and Babar, Dhoni, or even Sachin demonstrates varying degrees of excellence. However, in terms of reliability, influence, durability, and versatility, Virat Kohli remains a cornerstone of contemporary cricket and a standard for future generations.
