Viv Richards
Virat Kohli
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Virat Kohli leads 2 of 2 categories. Our all-time ranking places Viv Richards at #6 and Virat Kohli at #12.
Head-to-head FAQ
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The case for Viv Richards
Vivian Richards was the most intimidating batsman of his generation, a swaggering strokemaker who never wore a helmet even against the fastest bowling. He scored 8,540 Test runs at 50.23 and 6,721 in ODIs, and in 1976 alone he plundered 1,710 Test runs, a calendar-year record that stood for decades. His 56-ball century against England in 1986, still among the fastest in Tests, captured his disdain for bowlers. As the batting heart of the West Indies side that went fifteen years unbeaten in Test series, Richards blended Caribbean flair with ruthless dominance, walking to the crease chewing gum with an air of total authority. He later captained the team without losing a series. More than his numbers, it was the psychological ascendancy he held over every attack that marks him among the greatest and most feared batsmen ever.
The case for Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is the defining batsman of the post-2010 era and the greatest chaser of a target the one-day game has seen. Since debuting in 2008 he has scored more than 27,000 international runs and, as of early 2025, over 80 international centuries, including a record 50-plus ODI hundreds that surpassed Tendulkar's long-standing mark. His genius is at its clearest pursuing totals: his average in successful ODI run chases sits far above anyone else's, built on immaculate placement, running between the wickets, and control of tempo. Kohli scored heavily across all three formats, led India to the top of the Test rankings, and drove a new standard of fitness and intensity in the modern game. His 82 not out against Pakistan at the 2022 T20 World Cup is among the most celebrated innings of the era. He remains the benchmark for consistency and competitive hunger in contemporary batting.