Joe Root vs Virat Kohli: England batsman has outshone King Kohli in last 3 years

England batsman Joe Root was in scintillating form on the opening day of the first Ashes 2023 Test on Friday. He brought up his 30th Test century, scoring 118 runs from 152 balls, to receive a standing ovation from the spectators at Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground. He looked in complete control throughout the innings and if Ben Stokes had not declared England at 393 for 8, Root could have easily scored 150 just before stumps. bat. The fact that the knock came at a strike rate of 77.63 underlines the impact of the ‘buzzball’.

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Root, who batted according to the batting textbook, showed no hesitation or apprehension in adjusting to the new style of cricket the England management wanted all players to adopt. This change in approach has given England huge success in the last one year. But even before this, the numbers of the route are improving.

What else can we say about Joe Root? ,

all range from their 118* _ pic.twitter.com/ERtJ4gftyd– England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 16, 2023

In the last three years (from 2021), Root has scored 3299 runs in 52 innings, with 6 not out and an average of 58.91. He has scored 9 half-centuries and 13 centuries during this period. His highest score is 228. No other batsman can match these numbers in the last 3 years in Tests, not even Kane Williamson, Steve Smith or Virat Kohli. No other batsman has scored more than 2,000 runs or scored more than seven centuries during this period.

Talking about India’s Kohli, his numbers have been very poor. Looking at the form, it is quite surprising why the selectors do not want to drop him from the team. It may be the reputation and past record that is saving him. But for how long?

From 2021 to 2023, the same period when Root scored 3299 runs, Kohli has scored 1162 runs in 37 innings at an average of 31.4. He has scored only 150 fifties in the same period. These numbers are very low for a batsman of his stature and for this his future in the Test team needs to be discussed.

India plays 2 Tests in the West Indies in July, after which no Tests are played until December. Kohli is expected to join the team. Windies is a low ranked team. There are chances that some of India’s batsmen may end up with big scores. But what if the team has to win big matches. Kohli didn’t have too many innings in the final of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the two World Test Championship finals. Perhaps the team is in dire need of improvement.