Hashim Amla vs Virat Kohli: Records and Stats

India skipper Virat Kohli and former South Africa star Hashim Amla are amongst the best batsmen to have graced the game for their respective national sides. Both batsmen have scored prolific runs and proved to be match-winners across formats, showing exceptional consistency over a decade or more. While Amla quit the sport after the ODI world cup in 2019, Kohli continues to thrill cricket fans with his exploits on the field.

Amla Scored 18000-Plus Runs, Kohli Has 23000

When Amla called it quits, he had scored 18672 international runs including 55 tons and 88 fifties, across formats. By contrast, Kohli has made 23093 international runs, with 70 tons and 117 half-centuries. In this article, we will make a Hashim Amla vs Virat Kohli stats comparison in a study of the achievements of these modern legends of the game.

Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla in Test Cricket

Amla first made his mark in test cricket. Only after four years in the test arena did he play his first ODI match. Contrast that with Virat Kohli’s first brush with fame in senior men’s international cricket: the India skipper performed explosively well in ODI cricket before getting his first test cap.

Amla finished with 9000-plus Test Runs

When Amla finished his test career, he had 9282 runs from 124 matches at 46.64. The South African stalwart experienced a dip in his test average over his last two seasons, in 2018 and 2019, during which years he managed to score no more than six fifties. Yet, despite the absence of tons during that period, Amla finished with 28 test centuries to add to his 41 fifties in the format. In the decade from 2007 to 2017, Amla registered a 40-plus average in all but two seasons.

Kohli Has scored 7600-Plus Test Runs

By contrast, Kohli’s test career gained great momentum after a relatively slow start and the Indian legend has scored 7671 runs at 51.14 from 95 matches, with 27 tons and 26 half-centuries.

Better Home Record for Kohli

Kohli has a more dominant record at home, averaging 68.42 with 3558 runs, while Amla has scored 5135 runs at an average of 46.68. Amla has more hundreds (16) than Kohli (13) at home. While Kohli has a much better average of 64.31 in-home matches, with 3730 runs from 43 matches, Amla has registered an average of 46.68 while scoring 5135 from 69 home matches.

Similar Away Records

Playing away, both Kohli and Amla have a similar record. While Kohli has scored 3941 runs at 42.83 from 52 away matches, Amla has made 4147 runs at 46.60 in 55 matches overseas.

Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla in ODIs

In ODIs, Kohli set a trend by becoming the fastest (measured by the number of innings taken) to 1000, 2000, 3000 runs, and so on. Amla made it a habit to break those records in succession, taking — in the process — only 40 innings to 2000 ODI runs, 57 innings to 3000, 81 innings to 4000, 101 innings to 5000, 123 innings to 6000, and 150 innings to 7000.

Amla’s ODI Record Dipped

But as in the case of his test numbers, Amla’s ODI stats worsened in his last two seasons, causing his batting average in ODIs to dip below 50. When he stopped playing, Amla had 8113 ODI runs at 49.47, with 27 tons and 39 fifties. By contrast, Kohli is well ahead statistically — the Indian skipper has scored 12169 runs at 59.07, with 43 centuries, the second-highest tally of 100-plus innings in ODI history.

Similar Record in ODI World Cups

The two players’ records in ODI world cups are somewhat similar. While Kohli has made 1030 runs at 46.81, Amla has garnered 842 runs at 42.10. Again, while Kohli has registered two tons and six half-centuries, Amla has made two centuries and five half-tons. Neither batsman has had a great run of form in knockout matches at the world cup.

Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla in T20Is

While Amla did not have a T20I record that’s as impressive as Kohli’s, he did make an impact with 1277 runs at 33.60, with a strike rate of 132.05. Those runs included eight fifty-plus innings. By contrast, Kohli has made 3159 runs at 52.65, a world record. The T20I world cup record of the two players shows even greater divergence. In world cups, Amla has scored 376 runs at 31.33, with three fifties. Kohli has plundered 777 runs at 86.33, including nine fifties.

Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla in IPL

The fact that Kohli has played in all seasons of the IPL while Amla has featured in only two, does not make for a fair comparison. That said, Amla had an extremely impressive run in his short IPL stint, with 577 runs at 44.38 with a strike rate of 141.76, in 16 matches. Those runs included two centuries in the 2017 season. By contrast, Kohli has made 6076 runs in 199 matches at  37.97, with a strike rate of 130.41, including 5 tons and 40 fifties.

Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla in all T20s

Amla has played far fewer T20 games overall, despite featuring in more leagues than Kohli. In 151 matches, Amla has made 4292 runs at 30.95, with a strike rate of 126.16, while Kohli has scored 8900 runs at 41.20 from 281 T20 matches, with a strike rate of 134.56.

Summary

The Virat Kohli vs Hashim Amla records comparison has tilted in the Indian skipper’s favour since Amla’s goodbye to cricket.