The headline rivalry, the fine print
Two very different batters, one heated rivalry. One is a tone-setting opener who takes on the new ball; the other is a chase master who builds and finishes. Stack up Virat Kohli vs Rohit Sharma in ODIs against Pakistan and the picture is tight, but the paths they take are not the same.
Rohit Sharma leads the raw tally: 873 runs in 19 ODIs at an average of 51.35 and a strike rate of 92.38. He has two hundreds and eight fifties, with a best of 140 at Manchester in the 2019 World Cup. Virat Kohli, in fewer games, has 678 runs in 16 ODIs at 52.15 with a quicker strike rate of 100.29. He owns three hundreds and two fifties, headlined by that 183 off 148 in the 2012 Asia Cup chase of 330.
The most recent snapshots are split. Rohit’s last five vs Pakistan: 86 (2023 World Cup, Ahmedabad), 56 (2023 Asia Cup, Colombo), 11 (2023 Asia Cup, Pallekele), 140 (2019 World Cup, Manchester), 111* (2018 Asia Cup, Dubai). Kohli’s last five: 16 (2023 World Cup, Ahmedabad), 122* (2023 Asia Cup, Colombo), 4 (2023 Asia Cup, Pallekele), 77 (2019 World Cup, Manchester), 5 (2017 Champions Trophy final, The Oval).
Numbers say a lot, and here they say this: Rohit’s volume comes from starting every innings, soaking up the hardest overs and cashing in when set. Kohli’s edge in average and strike rate hints at a different skill—controlling chases, switching gears late, and squeezing fielders with singles before going big. Both have produced statement knocks in tournaments where there is no room to hide.
- Kohli’s 183 (Asia Cup 2012, Mirpur) remains the gold standard—high chase, high tempo, top bowlers, no slogging.
- Rohit’s 140 (World Cup 2019, Manchester) was a masterclass in reading swing and tempo against an attack led by Mohammad Amir.
- Rohit’s 111* (Asia Cup 2018, Dubai) showed clean risk control on a slow deck; he picked lengths early and killed the game inside the first 30 overs.
- Kohli’s 122* (Asia Cup 2023, Colombo) came after a rain break and a restart; he finished with a late surge alongside KL Rahul.
There have been bruises, too. The 2017 Champions Trophy final at The Oval is a well-known low: Rohit fell for 0 to Amir; Kohli nicked off for 5, again to Amir. That’s the other side of this rivalry—Pakistan’s left-arm new-ball threat is real, and it has shaped big matches.
Role, venue, and pressure: why context flips the script
Openers and No. 3s live different lives. Rohit walks into fresh swing, two slips, and attacking fields. His method is clear: dominate the powerplay if it’s there, then settle into repeatable scoring options—pulls, lofted drives, and gentle nudges square. When he gets through the first 30 balls, the big scores follow. His conversion vs Pakistan—two hundreds and eight fifties—tracks with that flow.
Kohli typically comes in early anyway in India–Pakistan games, but most often with one eye on the chase path or a rebuild after an early loss. He leans on strike rotation, forces changes in lengths, and then punches through the gaps. The three hundreds in fewer innings underline a habit: when he reaches 30–40, he tends to keep control until the end.
Venue matters. In Dubai, run-making is about placement and patience; both men have shown they can do it, though Rohit’s 111* stands out for its pattern-perfect pacing. In Manchester, with the white ball doing a bit under grey skies, Rohit’s 140 showed how early leaves and late acceleration can live in the same innings. In Colombo, with stop-start schedules and heavy air, Kohli’s 122* came with an end-overs burst after laying low early.
Oppositions shape choices. Against Pakistan, the new-ball duo often sets the tone—think Amir and Wahab in 2017–2019, and more recently Shaheen Afridi with the angle across the right-handers, while Haris Rauf tests the splice at high pace. Rohit’s pull and pick-up over midwicket can break that hold if he gets the line. Kohli counters with the straight bat—cover drives to full balls and hard-run twos to disrupt plans.
Pressure is the constant. India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral ODIs, so these games gather at ICC and ACC events where a bad ten minutes can define a year. That cuts both ways. Sample sizes stay small, and form swings look bigger than they are. It also means each standout knock lodges deeper in memory—the 183, the 140, the 111*, the 122*.
What do the numbers boil down to?
- Rohit has more runs overall (873 in 19) and more fifties (8), built off the opener’s runway.
- Kohli has the better average (52.15) and a higher strike rate (100.29) with more hundreds (3) in fewer matches (16).
- When conditions demand risk control and late acceleration, Kohli’s template travels well.
- When early swing is manageable and strokeplay is rewarded, Rohit can put the game out of reach inside 25 overs.
Match situation decides the spotlight. Chasing 300-plus with wickets in hand? That leans toward Kohli’s strengths. Batting first on a truer surface with a chance to bully the powerplay? That often hands Rohit the stage. Both have shown they can flip those scripts, but their most memorable innings follow those lines.
There’s also leadership in the mix. Rohit’s captaincy in recent years has shaped his batting approach early—controlled aggression, then acceleration if the deck allows. Kohli, even without the armband, continues to take responsibility for the chase—the calm 30s that become 90s, the final ten overs that double his strike rate.
So if you’re hunting for a one-line verdict, you won’t get a neat one. The ledger reads like this: the opener has the volume and the tone-setting blows; the No. 3 owns the chase theatre and the slightly sharper efficiency. Against Pakistan, where the first 15 overs often decide the mood, both skill sets matter. And because these fixtures are rare, each innings—good or bad—carries more weight than a regular ODI.
The next time India meet Pakistan in ODIs, watch the first 30 balls for each. If Rohit survives the new ball, the scoreboard moves fast. If Kohli gets time to map the field, the chase math tilts. The rivalry lives in those little windows, not just in the final numbers.
