The former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs recently offered his opinion on the long-standing comparison between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Responding to a fan’s question on social media, Herschelle Gibbs pointed out that while both are exceptional in their own right, the main difference lies in their approach and mindset. According to him, Rohit Sharma has always been more technically sound but Virat Kohli’s fierce ambition, particularly in white-ball cricket, sets him apart.
Herschelle Gibbs, who once named Virat Kohli his favourite player when the Indian cricketer was still in the Under-19 ranks, acknowledged that Rohit Sharma’s batting has consistently displayed solid technique. However, he believes it is Virat Kohli’s relentless drive to dominate, especially in limited-overs cricket, that has made a defining impact in their respective careers.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are among the most celebrated batters in the history of the game. Virat Kohli, since his international debut in August 2008 against Sri Lanka, has played 550 matches and accumulated 27,599 runs across all the formats. He holds the record for the most centuries in ODI cricket, with 51 to his name, and is the third highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, has featured in 499 international matches, scoring 19,700 runs. He recently captained India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and followed it up with a Champions Trophy win in early 2025. The Mumbai-born batter also holds the distinction of being India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship.
On May 7, Rohit announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending an 11-year-long journey in the format. He played 67 Tests, scoring 4,301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 fifties. Just a few days later, on May 12, Kohli also confirmed his retirement from Test cricket through a social media post. Over 14 years, he represented India in 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs. Notably, Virat Kohli remains India’s most successful captain in Test history.
As both the legends step away from red-ball cricket, reflections on their careers continue to spark discussion with insights like Gibbs’ adding further depth to their remarkable legacies.
