Crunching the Numbers: ODI 100s Reveals Stark Contrast between Kohli and Babar

Image credit: Cricinfo

Cricket, the gentleman’s game, has long been an arena of iconic clashes and unforgettable milestones. But in the age of data analytics, there’s a new way of understanding the magic of the pitch – through statistics. A revealing scatter plot recently shared by Cricinfo offers a compelling comparison of ODI runs versus ratio. One particularly interesting insight emerges when considering ODI 100s: the striking contrast between giants like Virat Kohli and Babar Azam.

The chart displays a broad range of players, but our focus narrows down to the impressive figures achieved by these two phenomenal batsmen. As the scatter plot shows, while both Kohli and Babar are standout performers, their journey in ODI cricket appears quite distinct.

Kohli’s Journey

Virat Kohli (IND) is undeniably one of the most iconic figures in modern-day cricket. With a score comfortably past the 14000 ODI runs mark, his standing on the scatter plot is testament to his relentless drive. However, what’s truly fascinating is Kohli’s ratio, which seems to be around the 15-mark. This suggests that while Kohli is an absolute run machine, his frequency of scoring ODI 100s is relatively spread out compared to certain other players. His enormous volume of runs is undoubtedly a testament to his consistency and the sheer volume of games he’s played.

Babar’s Trajectory

On the other hand, Babar Azam (PAK) boasts a ratio closer to the 17.5-mark, while his runs are just beyond the 6000 landmark. These numbers indicate Babar’s propensity for hitting ODI 100s at a more frequent interval than Kohli. Though he’s played fewer matches compared to the Indian skipper, Babar’s stats hint at an accelerated journey to rack up centuries.

However, numbers only tell half the story. The playing conditions, opposition quality, and situational pressures all play into these statistics. But what’s undeniable is that both Kohli and Babar, each in their unique way, are setting ODI cricket ablaze.

This scatter plot by Daniel Rhodes does more than just juxtapose two greats of the game; it offers cricket aficionados a chance to delve deep into the intricacies of performance metrics. As we stand on the cusp of yet another exciting cricket season, it remains to be seen how these charts will evolve and which new stars will emerge to challenge these benchmarks.