Australia’s journey in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy came to an end with a semifinal defeat against India. Leading the Australian team this time was Steve Smith, who guided his side to the last four. Despite the loss, Smith was the standout performer for Australia, scoring a fighting 73 runs.
Following the defeat, Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket, marking the end of an era in the format. Regarded as one of the best batters of his generation, Smith is often compared to Virat Kohli, the star of Indian cricket.
Let’s have a detailed look at how the two legends stack up across all three formats.
ODI Cricket: Virat Kohli’s dominance
Virat Kohli’s numbers in ODIs are extraordinary. With over 14,000 runs, 51 centuries, and an average exceeding 58, he remains one of the greatest ever in the format. Smith, despite being a technically gifted batter, falls short in comparison.
Steve Smith
Matches: 169, Runs: 5,727, Centuries: 12, Half-centuries: 34, Highest Score: 164, Batting Average: 43.06
Virat Kohli
Matches: 301, Runs: 14,180, Centuries: 51, Half-centuries: 74, Highest Score: 183, Batting Average: 58.11
Test Cricket: Steve Smith holds the edge
Steve Smith’s strength lies in Test cricket, where he has a higher batting average (56.75) and more centuries than Kohli. However, Kohli leads in double centuries and has played more match-defining innings in the longest format.
Steve Smith
Matches: 116, Runs: 10,271, Centuries: 36, Double Centuries: 2, Half-centuries: 41, Highest Score: 239, Batting Average: 56.75
Virat Kohli
Matches: 123, Runs: 9,230, Centuries: 30, Double Centuries: 7, Half-centuries: 51, Highest Score: 254*, Batting Average: 46.85
T20 Internationals: Virat Kohli’s superiority
In T20 Internationals, Kohli is in a league of his own, having scored over 4,000 runs with 38 half-centuries. His ability to chase under pressure makes him one of the greatest T20 batters. Smith, on the other hand, had a limited impact in this format.
Steve Smith
Matches: 67, Runs: 1,094, Half-centuries: 5, Highest Score: 90
Virat Kohli
Matches: 125, Runs: 4,188, Centuries: 1, Half-centuries: 38
Final Verdict
Both Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have established themselves as legends of the game. While Smith dominates in Test cricket, Kohli’s consistency across all three formats, especially in ODIs and T20s, sets him apart.
