MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli are two of India’s greatest cricket players and captains, each with a unique style. Dhoni is known for his “helicopter shot,” while Kohli is famous for his “cover drive.” Fans often debate who is better between these two cricketing legends. This comparison will look at their records as captains and batsmen in various formats of the game.
MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli Captaincy Records
Let’s compare their records as captains in different cricket formats.
Test Matches
Stat
MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli
Span
2008-2014
2014-2022
Matches
60
68
Won
27
40
Lost
18
17
Draw
15
11
Win Percentage
45%
58.82%
Analysis: Kohli has a higher win percentage and has won more Test matches as captain compared to Dhoni.
One Day Internationals (ODIs)
Stat
MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli
Span
2007-2018
2013-2021
Matches
200
95
Won
110
65
Lost
74
27
Draw
5
1
Win Percentage
59.52%
70.43%
Analysis: Kohli has a better win percentage but has captained fewer matches than Dhoni.
Analysis: Kohli has a higher batting average and more centuries, but Dhoni has a higher strike rate.
T20 Internationals (T20Is)
Stat
MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli
Innings
84
91
Runs
1617
3308
Balls Faced
1282
2403
Dismissals
43
66
Batting Average
37.6
50.12
Strike Rate
126.13
137.66
Highest Score
56
94
Fours
116
299
Sixes
52
93
Fifties
2
30
Centuries
0
0
Analysis: Kohli has a better average and strike rate, though he has faced more balls.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Stat
MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli
Innings
205
215
Runs
4977
6624
Balls Faced
3682
5129
Dismissals
127
183
Batting Average
39.19
53.62
Strike Rate
135.17
129.15
Highest Score
84
113
Fours
346
579
Sixes
229
219
Fifties
24
44
Centuries
0
5
Analysis: Kohli has more runs and centuries, but Dhoni has a higher strike rate and more sixes.
Conclusion
In terms of captaincy, Kohli has a better win percentage in Test and T20I formats, while Dhoni excels in ODIs and the IPL. Dhoni’s success in ICC tournaments and IPL titles highlights his impressive leadership. For batting, Kohli has better records in most formats, including more runs and centuries. Dhoni’s role as a finisher often means his stats reflect different match situations compared to Kohli’s role as a top-order batsman.