Michael Vaughan Sparks Fan Reactions by Comparing Virat Kohli’s Test Stats with Joe Root’s
Former England captain Michael Vaughan stirred up Indian cricket fans by comparing Joe Root’s Test statistics with those of Virat Kohli. World number one Test batsman Joe Root is currently enjoying an exceptional run in the format. He recently matched Alastair Cook’s England record of 33 Test centuries by scoring a hundred on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Thursday. Root was eventually dismissed for 143 off 206 balls in England’s first innings of the match. Following his impressive performance, Vaughan took the opportunity to make a comparison between Root and Kohli, which did not sit well with many Indian fans.
One fan responded to Vaughan’s comparison with a jab, writing, “It should be good morning Britain. We haven’t seen that guy Virat in India for a long time.” Another fan was quick to defend Kohli’s overall international achievements, commenting, “Joe Root will have to take two lifetimes to match Virat Kohli’s 80th international centuries.” Criticism of Root’s achievements was also present, with one user saying, “Joe Root is just a home track bully without home Test hundreds. On flat pitches, he is just another Babar Azam.”
Some fans offered a more balanced perspective, acknowledging the differences in the players’ careers. A user noted, “Root’s better in Test cricket, there’s no shame in saying that. Virat’s a three-format player, now two, whereas Joe’s mostly concentrated in the Test circuit.”
Root’s latest century placed him level with fellow former England captain Alastair Cook, who also scored 33 Test centuries for England, although Cook reached this milestone in his 161st Test match, compared to Root’s 145th Test. At 33 years old, Root’s prolific form has propelled him into joint-tenth place on the all-time list of Test century-makers, a list topped by India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who amassed 51 centuries in 200 Tests between 1989 and 2013. Notably, Root is the only active cricketer among the top Test century scorers, as all others have retired from the format.
Vaughan’s comparison comes amid a period of transition for Virat Kohli, who, unlike Root, has been a prominent player across all three formats of the game but has experienced a dip in his recent Test performances. Kohli’s stature as a multi-format player has often been cited as a testament to his versatility and longevity. Nevertheless, Vaughan’s comments reignited the ongoing debate among fans over who holds the upper hand in Test cricket, with each player bringing distinct strengths and achievements to the table.
