In the ever-evolving landscape of cricket, where statistics paint a vivid picture of performance and prowess, 2024 has been a year of remarkable feats for the “Fab Four” – Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson. These cricketing titans have not only upheld but also enhanced their reputation as some of the most consistent and prolific run-scorers in the modern era. This year, their performances across various formats have been nothing short of spectacular, inviting a detailed statistical analysis to determine who among them has emerged as the leading run-scorer.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has had a challenging year by his standards. He has managed to score 296 runs in 15 innings across international cricket formats in 2024, with an average of 19.73. This performance includes one fifty, indicating a dip in his usual prolific form but still showcasing his ability to grind out runs when needed.
Joe Root
Joe Root has been in sensational form, particularly in Test cricket, amassing 715 runs in just 16 innings. His performances underline his consistency and ability to score heavily, especially in red-ball cricket, where he’s known for his elegant and technically sound batting.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith’s year has been marked by a struggle for consistency, scoring 318 runs in 15 international innings at an average of 31.80. His strike rate of 62.10 suggests a cautious approach, perhaps reflecting the conditions or his role within the team dynamics.
Kane Williamson
Williamson is arguably the most tycehnichally solid batsmen among top 4. In 2024, he has played 4 Tests so far and scored 480 runs, including. a mammoth double hundred. In T20is he scored 111 runs in 6 matches, and he hasn’t played any ODI this year.
Analysis:
Kohli’s Performance: Despite the lower average and runs compared to his usual standards, Kohli’s performance still places him in the conversation due to his reputation and occasional high-impact innings. His struggle might be attributed to various factors including personal form, team strategy, or the conditions faced.
Root’s Dominance: Joe Root’s figures highlight him as the standout performer among the Fab Four in 2024, especially in Test cricket. His ability to adapt and score heavily underlines his current status as potentially the best among the group in terms of runs scored this year.
Smith’s Challenges: Steve Smith’s numbers show a year where he hasn’t quite hit his stride, possibly due to the demands of leadership or the evolving nature of cricket where adaptability is key. His figures, while not as impressive as in previous years, still reflect his importance to the Australian side.
Williamson’s Unseen Consistency: Kane Williamson, often the quiet achiever, might not have the headline-grabbing numbers detailed here for 2024, but his career trajectory suggests he would be contributing significantly, perhaps more in quality of innings rather than sheer volume of runs.
From the data available, Joe Root emerges as the leading run-scorer among the Fab Four in 2024, showcasing his exceptional form, particularly in Test cricket. Kohli, despite a dip, remains a pivotal figure due to his occasional brilliance. Smith faces a year of relative underperformance, while Williamson’s contribution, though not detailed in runs, would likely be significant based on his career consistency. This year’s statistics provide a snapshot of their current form but also remind us of the enduring quality and competition within this group of modern cricketing greats.
