Virat Kohli vs Rahul Dravid: ODI stats comparison and career analysis

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), a batter should neither rush recklessly nor slow down excessively. The key lies in assessing the situation, pacing the innings properly, and building the team’s total accordingly. India has produced several legendary ODI players, but two names that stand out in different eras are Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid, icons who mastered the 50-over format in their own unique ways.

Both played during periods when ODIs formed the backbone of bilateral series cricket, yet their approaches were worlds apart. While Kohli’s aggressive yet calculated, Dravid’s composed, resilient style anchored many Indian innings. Despite contrasting methods, both played vital roles in delivering victories for the team. Here let us delve further in their ODI numbers.

Virat Kohli

Kohli is fondly known as the ‘Chase Master’, and has single-handedly steered India to numerous wins. In 302 matches and 290 innings so far, the New Delhi-born has scored 14,181 runs at an extraordinary average of 57.88, including 51 centuries, which display his sheer dominance in the white-ball format.

Kohli’s hallmark has been his ability to adapt to match situations, often batting deep into the innings to guide successful run-chases. While he has retired from T20Is and Test cricket, he continues to feature in ODIs. If fitness and form permit, he could remain a key figure until the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, much to the delight of fans eager to see him in the Indian blues for years to come.

Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid is nicknamed ‘The Wall’, and brought his trademark composure, technical mastery to the ODI arena. While his strike rate and power-hitting were less flashy than modern-day batters, his contributions were invaluable. Dravid breached the 10000-run mark in the format, but remained an extremely underrated figure across his 318 innings, notching well over 80 half-centuries in the process.

He is known for his ability to occupy the crease for extended periods, where he faced 15,285 balls in his ODI career, which shows a reflection of his immense staying power. He often replicated his red-ball patience in the limited-overs game, providing stability in the middle order and stepping up whenever the team needed a dependable hand.

Virat Kohli & Rahul Dravid ODI stats comparison

Note: Kohli is still playing ODI cricket. Data as of August 10, 2025

Conclusion

Statistically, Kohli surpasses Dravid in most batting metrics, especially in centuries and chasing records. The 36-year-old’s consistency and ability to deliver under pressure have broken countless records in white-ball cricket. However, Dravid’s role in shaping India’s ODI success during his era cannot be understated. As a result, no strict conclusions can't be drawn.