It was not too long ago that India captain Rohit Sharma found himself at an advantage to dominate the list of most run-getters in T20 internationals. The 35-year-old has established himself as a solid name in the shortest format with the most number of matches (139); most number of runs (3,694); and centuries (four).
But Sharma has now been challenged by his predecessor Virat Kohli, who has hit form in the recently held Asia Cup where he even slammed a century -- his maiden in the format. Kohli has played 32 matches less than Sharma but his return to form has seen him getting dangerously close to the latter with 3,660 runs. They are the only two players in world cricket to make more than 3,500 runs in T20 internationals.
Kohli has a better average (50 plus) over Sharma (32 something) but the latter has a better strike rate (141) as against the former (138). The India captain also has hit more sixes (177 versus 108) and fours (330 versus 324) than Kohli after the end of the recent series against Australia.
India will now play a three-match T20 international series at home against South Africa and the Indian fans will be delighted to see the contest unfolding in their favourite side between its two most acclaimed batters.
The first of the three T20s against South Africa will be played in Thiruvananthapuram in the southern state of Kerala on Wednesday (28). The two teams will also play three one-day internationals after the T20s.
Kohli has slammed three fifties besides the century in his last eight matches while Sharma has made only one fifty.
In the final T20 match against Australia in Hyderabad, Kohli played a crucial 63 off 48 balls and added 104 key runs with Suryakumar Yadav to give India much-needed victory in both the match and the three-game series. Sharma, on the other hand, slammed an important 46 not out off 20 balls in the rain-curtailed second match in Nagpur to help his side level the series.
India will hope that the contest between Sharma and Kohli continues as that would benefit the team's mega mission to win the T20 World Cup back after a gap of 15 years.
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