Virat Kohli or Steve Smith? Dinesh Karthik names the best Test batter of the 21st century

Saurav Goyal

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Virat Kohli or Steve Smith? Dinesh Karthik names the best Test batter of the 21st century image

When it comes to Test cricket in this century, only a handful of names often dominate debates.

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have stood tall for more than a decade, building reputations as two of the finest batters of their generation.

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Now, former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has stepped into the conversation with his own choice, ranking players in a knockout-style exercise before finally settling on one name as the best Test batter since 2000.

How did Dinesh Karthik compare top Test batters of the modern era?

Karthik used a unique format that looked similar to a Tennis Grand Slam draw. Sixteen players who started their careers after the year 2000 were placed in a chart, and he had to pick winners from each “round.”

Big names like Kumar Sangakkara, Alastair Cook, AB de Villiers, Joe Root, and Virender Sehwag were all part of the line-up.

In the early stage, Kohli got the better of Angelo Mathews, while Smith advanced past Kane Williamson. Other choices included Graeme Smith over Michael Clarke, Sehwag over Cook, and Younis Khan over Hashim Amla.

As the list narrowed, Karthik kept moving Kohli and Smith forward until the two giants faced each other in the final.

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Who did Karthik finally select as the best Test batter - Virat Kohli or Steve Smith?

The final showdown was between Kohli and Smith. Both have defined India-Australia Test battles over the years, not only as run-scorers but also as captains leading their sides.

Karthik, however, leaned towards the Australian, declaring Steve Smith as the best Test batter of the 21st century.

Smith’s record is indeed staggering- over 10,000 Test runs at an average above 56 with 36 centuries.

Kohli, who recently announced retirement from the longest format, finished with more than 9,200 runs and 30 centuries at an average of nearly 47.

While Kohli’s greatness is unquestioned, Smith’s numbers across conditions gave him the final edge in Karthik’s view.

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Saurav Goyal

Saurav Goyal is a Content Producer at the Sporting News with over two years of experience in covering cricket. An avid cricket fan for more than two decades, his passion for the game led him to writing. Since then, he’s been delivering the latest news and engaging content to keep cricket fans informed and entertained.