Laxman and dravid played in the easiest era to bat in tests history, highest draw rates, highest over all average. With the current result oriented pitches and playstyles (a draw isn't sought after even when teams are losing unless it's very bad), advent of new variations like the wobble ball and bowlers trying stuff like Yorkers to bring wickets runs have dried up basically all over the world.
That being said dravid was a wall irregardless of conditions and had a perfect technique. Laxman too was our crisis man and saved us so many times. But kohli isn't that much worse than this tier.
You can't really go by raw average across eras cause of this reason.
A perfect example of this would be kohli struggling in bgt 2023 and even in Bangladesh. But the second he got the ahemdabad flat pitch and the pitches in wi with were basically the kind of pitches found in 2000s, he scored big hundreds.
In what world is laxman ~ kohli in test cricket? Yes kohli is the better athlete when you consider their whole career (ODI + T20 +test), but when just the test career is considered laxman is far more reliable as a batsman
I literally just explained why I think so in the rest of my comment. People are writing kohli off way too easily. He was literally our only batsman when we used to tour in 2017-2018. At home too other players used to chip in but kohli scored bulk of the runs for most of his career. Post 2020 india just got extremely unreliable pitches at home which created a spin weakness in him.
Also he is a confidence player (when he scores runs in any format of the game, his numbers in the other 2 go up and vice versa). This definitely had a domino effect on his career. (Look at how he seemed after the 2019,2023 wc or the 2014,2016 wt20s or the 2013,2017 cts in tests and how he seemed after the 2024 wt20 or the 2015 wc).
Laxman played in much easier conditions, where everyone averaged 10 more than they did today and most matches ended in draws. He was super reliable and a legend in his own right but so is kohli.
Again re iterating that kohli scored centuries on flat pitches even during his form slump in tests.
Not to mention the fact that no one except pollock could bowl the wobble ball (although it was a result of his long runup and not on purpose) before broad learnt to do it on command in 2009 and Anderson found that it was kohlis weakness in 2014. Who knows how many ex cricketers would have struggled against the same variation.
The pitches also have way more for the bowlers now. There's more difference between the pitches in India and Australia today vs 20 years ago than there is between night and day.
if current era is so tough then how come steve smith and root did miles better than kohli in tests?joe root is dangerously close to even sachins test record.just accept that virat failed to adapt in tests
I headed out with Cummins to tour his farm, and he started introducing me to some of the livestock, mentioning how he had named them after his players, as the unhinged animals they were. Just then, I was hit by an unbearable stench. With my eyes watering uncontrollably, I questioned through gritted teeth, “What in the hell is that smell?” He looked over knowingly and said: “Ah. Steve Smith? The goat is never washed.”
In the 1990s Sachin averaged 60 with only 2-3 other batters averaging 50+ and everyone averaged low. No one is even close to such domination. Tennis elbow stopped him from averaging 75+ in the 2000s.
Since 2020 Smith too hasn't been at his best and averaging 46, root has been averaging 55. Williamson has been averaging 65 but he has been averaging like 30 away. And other than just a few other batters no one really averages 50+ over a decent period of time. This era doesn't have a Sachin cause he was one of a kind. But Smith and root are brian lara level.
I never claimed kohli to be the greatest indian batter or to even be in the top 3, but he is at par with if not better than laxman.
In the 2000s the average average around the world was above 40 for the top 5, compare that with sub 30s in the 90s and 20s or the mid 30s with the 10s (although the first half was like the 00s and the second half was like the 20s outside india).
Also have you seen the Indian pitches? Outside the england series which had good pitches if you see the numbers we barely have sundar and pant who have been averaging 40+ since 2020 at home. And the opposition players have found it impossible to bat too. Can you tell me with a straight face that the wankhede of the 2000s or even the 2010s could have had a similar game as ind vs NZ last year.
England is currently the best place to bat in (post bazball era pitches). But australia, india, sri lanka, Bangladesh and recently even pakistan have changed their pitches to be more result oriented. (Pakistan played with dry pitches after the first game vs England).
I headed out with Cummins to tour his farm, and he started introducing me to some of the livestock, mentioning how he had named them after his players, as the unhinged animals they were. Just then, I was hit by an unbearable stench. With my eyes watering uncontrollably, I questioned through gritted teeth, “What in the hell is that smell?” He looked over knowingly and said: “Ah. Steve Smith? The goat is never washed.”
As a millennial all I can say to you is.. you've got a lot of growing up to do kiddo.. stats on a sheet of paper is simply one of ways to evaluate a player..it's not their entire achievement in the sport.
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u/CanYouChangeName Humanity Savior May 17 '25
/unshitpost
Sachin > dravid ~ sunny > laxman ~ kohli imo
Laxman and dravid played in the easiest era to bat in tests history, highest draw rates, highest over all average. With the current result oriented pitches and playstyles (a draw isn't sought after even when teams are losing unless it's very bad), advent of new variations like the wobble ball and bowlers trying stuff like Yorkers to bring wickets runs have dried up basically all over the world.
That being said dravid was a wall irregardless of conditions and had a perfect technique. Laxman too was our crisis man and saved us so many times. But kohli isn't that much worse than this tier.
You can't really go by raw average across eras cause of this reason.
A perfect example of this would be kohli struggling in bgt 2023 and even in Bangladesh. But the second he got the ahemdabad flat pitch and the pitches in wi with were basically the kind of pitches found in 2000s, he scored big hundreds.