Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are two of all-time greats. One is hailed as the greatest all-format batsman while the other is touted to be the greatest Test batsman since Don Bradman.
Both of them have attained great laurels for their country. Smith has conquered all three major ICC trophies – he won the 2015 World Cup, 2021 T20 World Cup, and most recently the 2023 WTC Final. Kohli won the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
While Steve has a rich legacy in Test cricket, with him also returning with the Ashes urn in the 2019 Ashes in England with the series drawn, Kohli is yet to win or draw a series in England. However, while Kohli has won a Test series in Australia, Smith has not won a single Test series in India.
So as the back and forth between two of the finest ever batters continue, as they tussle in the last phase of their careers, we look at some of their Test stats to see who has en edge over another.
Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith overall Test stats:
In 109 Tests, Kohli has 8479 runs at an average of 48 with 28 centuries and 28 fifties. Smith has 9137 runs in 101 Tests at an average of 58 with 32 centuries and 37 fifties.
Among batters with at least 5000 Test runs, Smith’s average of 58.94 is the best after Don Bradman’s 99.94. Bradman scored 6996 runs with 29 centuries.
Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith home and away Test stats
One of the marker of a player’s durability and adaptability is his runs away from home.
Away from home (that is the home of opposition and in neutral Tests), Smith averages 54.59 in 52 Tests with 16 centuries. Outside India, Virat averages 41 in 59 Tests with 14 centuries.
Both batsmen have dominated oppositions at home: In Australia, Smith averages a whooping 64 with 16 centuries while Kohli in India averages a terrific 60 with 14 hundreds to his name.
Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith in head-to-head matches:
Now, while home and away matches differ in conditions vastly for these two greats, what would be interesting to see how they have performed in the same match in the same conditions.
Kohli and Smith have faced each other in 15 matches in India, Australia, and in one Test in England in WTC Final 2023.
In those 15 games where Kohli and Smith have faced each other, Smith scored 1603 at an average of 69 with 7 centuries, and Kohli is a little behind with 1319 at an average of 50 with 5 centuries.
Conclusion: Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith in Tests
Smith has better numbers and record in Tests than Kohli. Both of them are amongst the greatest ever batters, with different techniques, it can be said with fair assessment that Smith has been better than Kohli in Test cricket.
