Former India captain Virat Kohli and ex-New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson have been instrumental in their respective teams’ batting lineups for years. Kohli recently became only the third cricketer in history to surpass the 14,000-run mark in ODIs, while Williamson has cemented his place as New Zealand’s fifth-highest run-scorer in the format, amassing over 7,000 runs.
As the ICC Champions Trophy progresses, both India and New Zealand have secured their spots in the semi-finals from Group A. They will now face each other in their final group-stage clash on Sunday, March 2, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With Kohli and Williamson being key players for their teams, their performances will be closely watched in this crucial encounter.
Here’s a detailed comparison of their ODI stats after 170 matches.
1. Most Runs
Virat Kohli ranks third on the all-time ODI run-scorers list, having amassed 14,085 runs in 299 matches at an impressive average of 58.20. In his first 170 ODIs, he had scored 7,204 runs.
Meanwhile, Kane Williamson has played 170 ODIs for New Zealand, scoring 7,041 runs in 162 innings.
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 170 | 162 | 7,204 |
| Kane Williamson | 170 | 162 | 7,041 |
2. Batting Average and Strike Rate
Kohli maintained an impressive average of 51.83 and a strike rate of 89.99 in his first 170 ODIs.
Williamson, on the other hand, has an average of 48.89 and a strike rate of 81.63 in the same number of matches.
| Player | Matches | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 170 | 51.83 | 89.99 |
| Kane Williamson | 170 | 48.89 | 81.63 |
3. Most Fifty-Plus Scores
Kohli has 73 fifties and 51 centuries in 299 ODIs. In his first 170 matches, he had 36 half-centuries and 25 centuries.
Williamson, in comparison, has 46 fifties and 14 centuries.
| Player | Matches | Fifties | Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 170 | 36 | 25 |
| Kane Williamson | 170 | 46 | 14 |
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4. Runs in Winning Causes
In Kohli’s first 170 ODIs, India won 97 matches, during which he scored 4,987 runs at an average of 68.23 and a strike rate of 93.62, including 19 fifties and 21 centuries.
Williamson played 170 ODIs, with New Zealand winning 88 matches. He accumulated 4,226 runs in winning causes at an average of 59.52 and a strike rate of 85.06, with 27 fifties and 10 centuries.
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Fifties | Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 94 | 4,987 | 68.23 | 93.62 | 19 | 21 |
| Kane Williamson | 85 | 4,226 | 59.52 | 85.06 | 27 | 10 |
5. Highest Individual Score
Kohli’s highest ODI score came against Pakistan in 2012, when he smashed 183 off 148 balls at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Williamson’s career-best knock of 148 off 154 balls came against the West Indies in the 2019 World Cup at Old Trafford.
| Player | Highest Score |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 183 off 148 balls |
| Kane Williamson | 148 off 154 balls |
Conclusion
Virat Kohli had a phenomenal start to his career and has since established himself as one of the greatest ODI players of all time. He currently stands third in the list of highest run-scorers in ODI history and is just 150 runs away from surpassing Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) for the second spot.
Kane Williamson, meanwhile, has been a crucial figure in New Zealand’s batting lineup, consistently delivering match-winning performances. His ability to anchor the innings has made him one of the finest batters in New Zealand’s history.
As India and New Zealand prepare to face off in the Champions Trophy, both players will look to leave their mark in yet another high-stakes encounter
