Herschelle Gibbs Weighs in on Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli Debate

Gibbs' Take on the Iconic Batters

Herschelle Gibbs, the former South African opener, has shared his insights on the ongoing discussion surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, asserting that Rohit has always been the more technically proficient batsman. With both Indian cricket legends recently announcing their retirement from Test cricket, the debate over who possesses a more comprehensive skill set in the longest format has resurfaced.

The conversation was sparked by a user on X who posted a video comparing the two players, showcasing Rohit Sharma's exceptional shot-making, even during challenging times. Gibbs responded from a coaching perspective, emphasizing the need for more scoring options for Kohli.

"It’s up to the batting coach to give him (Virat Kohli) more options to score no matter who the batter is.. thank me later."

When directly asked to choose between the two, Gibbs made his preference clear.

"Rohit was always more technically correct than Virat. But Virat’s desire to dominate, especially in white ball format, is a major difference between the two batters."

Kohli, who once referred to Gibbs as his "favorite cricketer" in a 2008 ICC U19 promotional video, received constructive feedback from his idol. Gibbs acknowledged Kohli's ambition but maintained that Rohit had the upper hand in terms of technique.

You ever see Rohit defend balls on 4th or 5th stump? How many times did Virat get out doing just that? Rohit definitely technically better than virat

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) May 14, 2025

"How many times did Virat get out doing just that?" - Gibbs

As discussions continued in favor of Kohli's Test achievements, Gibbs reiterated his viewpoint. When another user challenged him, the former Proteas player elaborated on Kohli's discipline outside off-stump, which has often led to his dismissals in Tests.

"You ever see Rohit defend balls on 4th or 5th stump? How many times did Virat get out doing just that? Rohit definitely technically better than Virat," Gibbs stated.

While Kohli boasts a significantly longer Test career with 123 matches, 8673 runs, and 29 centuries, compared to Rohit's 67 Tests and 4301 runs, Gibbs' argument focuses more on technique rather than statistics, suggesting that Rohit's style aligns better with traditional Test batting.

The Indian Test team is now set to move forward without both players, with a lengthy tour of England scheduled to commence next month. The squad selection is expected to take place in the final week of May.