The debate over the greatest batsman of this generation has reignited following Joe Root’s record-breaking 34th Test century at Lord’s. Among the “Fab Four” of Root, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli, Root now holds the most Test centuries with 34.
In a recent podcast, former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan weighed in on the debate. For T20 cricket, both Gilchrist and Vaughan unanimously chose Kohli over Root. In ODIs, Vaughan again favored Kohli, with Gilchrist concurring.
However, when it came to Test cricket, Vaughan opted for Root, acknowledging his recent dominance. Gilchrist agreed, stating that Root’s statistics over the long term are exceptional, making him the greatest England batsman ever.
However, when asked to choose between Kohli and Root against Australia, Gilchrist hesitated, emphasizing the importance of the playing conditions. In Australia, he noted that Root has yet to score a century, while Kohli has produced some of his finest performances, including a memorable century at the Perth Stadium.
Vaughan conceded that Kohli would be his choice in Australia, but elsewhere, he would favor Root. He highlighted Root’s impressive record in India, where he has scored over 1200 runs in 15 Tests with three centuries.
Kohli’s aggressive and technically sound batting makes him a formidable force in all formats. His cover drives, flicks, and ability to chase down targets with precision are among his strengths. His adaptability and consistency make him one of the most reliable batsmen in the world.
Root, on the other hand, is known for his classical batting technique and consistency, particularly in Test cricket. He is adept at handling both pace and spin, with an elegant playing style that includes effective use of the back foot and a wide range of shots. Root’s ability to grind out runs in challenging conditions is also noteworthy.
While both players are exceptional, Kohli is often regarded as more dominant in limited-overs cricket, while Root’s strengths lie in the longer format. The debate over who is the greatest batsman of this generation is likely to continue, but both Kohli and Root have cemented their status as two of the finest players of their era.
