Comparing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's Ranji Trophy records - who has scored more hundreds?

There was excitement in the air when reports of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma playing in the upcoming Duleep Trophy swirled around yesterday, August 12. However, later in the day, contradictory versions of the duo not playing the prestigious tournament floated around, much to the disappointment of Indian fans.

Since establishing themselves in the Indian side for all three formats, Rohit and Kohli have understandably rarely been seen in domestic cricket. While the former last played in a domestic red-ball game eight years back, the latter's participation goes even further to 12 years.

Kohli's last domestic red-ball outing in India came in 2012 in a Ranji Trophy encounter between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Rohit's last domestic red-ball match in India came in the 2016 Duleep Trophy final for India Blue against India Red.

On that note, here is a look back at the Ranji Trophy exploits of Kohli and Rohit, including finding out who scored more centuries between the two.

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Breakdown of Virat Kohli's Ranji Trophy career

Virat Kohli's maiden Ranji Trophy appearance for his state side Delhi came in the 2006-07 season. The 35-year-old scored 257 runs at an average of 36.71 with a lone half-century in six games.

Kohli returned to the tournament the following year with a much bigger impact, finishing with 373 runs at an average of 53.28, including two centuries, in five matches.

However, the 2008-09 Ranji season was disappointing for the stylish batter, as he scored only 174 runs at an average of 34.80 with two half-centuries in four games.

With his India debut coming true in the white-ball format in 2008, Kohli was hungry for success in the red-ball arena and prospered in the 2009-10 Ranji season. He finished with 374 runs at an incredible average of 93.50, including a century and two half-centuries in three matches.

The runs continued to flow in the following 2010-11 tournament, with Kohli finishing on 339 runs at an average of 56.50, including two centuries in four games. While he skipped the 2011-12 campaign after becoming an all-format player for India, Kohli played a lone game in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy, scoring 57 runs in the two innings.

The below table summarizes Kohli's Ranji Trophy career:

Overall, the 35-year-old has amassed 1,574 runs at a healthy average of almost 51 with five centuries in 23 Ranji Trophy outings.

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Breakdown of Rohit Sharma's Ranji Trophy career

Rohit Sharma kickstarted his Ranji Trophy career for Mumbai in the 2006-07 season, much like Virat Kohli. However, the 37-year-old wasted no time making a mark, scoring 531 runs at an average of 48.07 with a century in his maiden Ranji campaign.

Rohit endured his lone down Ranji season in the 2007-08 campaign, scoring only 191 runs at an average of 27.28 in five outings. Yet, the champion batter set the Indian domestic circuit on fire in the next few seasons, starting from the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy.

Rohit scored 747 runs at an average of 74.70 in the 2008-09 season with three centuries, followed by 537 runs at an 87.83 average and two centuries in the 2009-10 edition. The numbers continued skyrocketing, as Rohit scored 732 runs at an incredible average of 122 with two centuries in 2010/11.

He was at his brutal best in the subsequent two seasons in 2011-12 and 2012-13, totalling over 1,000 runs at an average of over 80 with five centuries.

While Rohit missed the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Ranji seasons, he played his last Ranji Trophy game in the lone appearance in the 2015-16 campaign and scored a century.

Here is a tabular summary of Rohit Sharma's Ranji Trophy career:

Rohit boasts spectacular overall Ranji Trophy numbers with almost 4,000 runs at an average of 72.07, including 14 centuries in 42 outings.

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Rohit Sharma wins the Ranji Trophy battle with Virat Kohli

Based on the above numbers, it is crystal clear that Rohit Sharma upstages Virat Kohli in terms of their respective Ranji Trophy careers.

While Rohit has played more matches and scored more runs, he also has an incredible average of 72.07 compared to Kohli's 50.77. As far as hundreds are concerned, the current Indian captain outduels his predecessor by a wide margin of 14-5.