Michael Vaughan Reignites Joe Root vs Virat Kohli Debate as Comparison Sparks Outrage on Social Media – News18
Joe Root and Virat Kohli are among the best batters of the current generation. (Image: AP, AFP)
Michael Vaughan took to social media to explain why he thinks Joe Root might be better than Kohli and the internet wasn’t having none of it.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has taken a cheeky dig at Virat Kohli on social media. He compared Kohli with Joe Root in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Root recently achieved a significant milestone on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on August 29.
He matched Alastair Cook’s England record of 33 Test centuries. Following the landmark moment, Vaughan compared Root’s statistics with Kohli. He shared the duo’s number of innings, runs, highest scores, averages and strike rates on a piece of paper and shared a picture of it on X. “Morning India,” he wrote.
Michael Vaughan’s comparison between Joe Root and Virat Kohli has now sparked severe criticism. Many poured their reactions in the comments with one writing, “Great now show me Joe Froot’s limited-overs career. Root’s a home track bully, scoring 70 per cent of his centuries in England.”
Great now show me Joe Froot’s limited overs Career.Root’s a Home track bully scored 70% of his centuries in England
— Cheems Bond (Parody) (@Cheems_Bond_007) August 30, 2024
Another highlighted how Virat Kohli boasted better statistics across all formats and wrote, “Kohli dominates in all 3 formats and league. Root 1 format bully.”
Kohli dominates in all 3 formats and leagueRoot 1 format bully
— Andleeb Akhtar (@viratkohli_un) August 30, 2024
One social media user pointed out that Michael Vaughan had skipped out on 4s and wrote, “You forgot to count the number of 4s. They are very important, Michael. Remember, they got you a World Cup.”
You forgot to count the number of 4s.They are very important, Michael.Remember, they got you a World Cup.— Dr. Devashish Palkar (@psychidiaries) August 30, 2024
Another wrote, “Root’s better in Test cricket, there’s no shame in saying that. Virat’s a 3-format player, now 2, whereas Joe’s mostly concentrated in the Test circuit.”
Root’s better in Test Cricket, there’s no shame in saying that.Virat’s a 3-Format Player, now 2, whereas Joe’s mostly concentrated in the Test Circuit.— MrSeeker (@mr_seeker_1) August 30, 2024
“Your goat must have scored a Test century in Australia. Oh no, my bad! He’s just a home bully like you,” read another comment.
Your goat must have scored test century in Australia Ohh no my bad!!!! He’s just a home bully like u
— Rajasthani Tau Ji (@Rajasthanii_Tau) August 30, 2024
Coming back to the Test, there was a nervous moment when Joe Root had reached the 99-run mark. Soaking all the pressure, Root elegantly hit a boundary to reach his century facing 162 deliveries. It was Root’s sixth Test ton at the iconic stadium. His innings came to an end after he was caught by Pathum Nissanka at point for 143. Root’s 33rd century now puts him in the joint 10th place in the list of players with the most Test hundreds. He is currently the only active player on this list. Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 51 centuries in 200 Tests between 1989 and 2013. As for Virat Kohli, he currently has 29 centuries in Tests.
