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The debate over the greatest cricketer of this generation has long centered on four modern-day giants – Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson. Each of these batters has etched their name in cricket history with outstanding records, remarkable consistency, and game-changing performances. While Kohli dominated the previous decade with his aggressive batting and ability to chase down targets, Smith’s unorthodox technique, Root’s resurgence and Williamson’s classical stroke play have added further dimensions to this ongoing discussion.
Recently, the debate reignited after Smith reached the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket. His feat, achieved during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, cemented his place among cricket’s elite. Smith joined Australian legends Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh in the prestigious club.
Ricky Ponting’s choice: Best player of the current generation
Smith’s entry into the 10,000 Test runs club came in just 205 innings, making him the fifth-fastest batter to reach the landmark. Only cricketing greats Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara and Ponting have achieved the feat in fewer innings. In the same game, Smith notched up his 35th Test century, adding yet another achievement to his already illustrious career.
Australia’s legendary captain Ricky Ponting weighed in on the debate, offering his perspective on Smith’s place among his contemporaries.
“Is he the best player of his generation? It’s hard to argue against it,” Ponting was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
He acknowledged the brilliance of Root and Williamson, highlighting their incredible records and consistency Ponting noted that while Smith, Kohli, Williamson, and Root emerged as the “Fab Four” around the same time, Root’s transformation in the past few years has significantly elevated his standing.
“Joe Root is the other one now, and [Kane] Williamson’s record is outstanding as well. Joe’s last couple of years have elevated him right back up there, I think Five or six years ago, when this big four emerged, with [Virat] Kohli being one of those as well, Joe was probably down near the bottom part of that because he hadn’t made the hundreds the other guys had made, but he’s made 19 hundreds in the past four years,” the former Australian cricketer stated.
However, Ponting admitted that subjectivity plays a huge role in the debate.
“If you asked an Englishman, they’d say Joe Root. If you asked an Aussie, they’d say Steve Smith. If you asked a Kiwi, they’d say Kane Williamson. It’s a tough one, but on the numbers themselves, it’s hard to argue against what Smith has done,” Ponting concluded.
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Can the superstar of cricket reclaim his dominance?
While Smith, Root and Williamson continue amassing records, Kohli’s form has dipped significantly, leading to questions about whether he can reclaim his once-dominant status. At 36 years old, the Indian maestro finds himself struggling to match the standards he set in the past decade. His once-unparalleled ability to dictate terms in all three formats has waned, and his recent Test performances have been underwhelming compared to his peak years.
From 2016 to 2019, Kohli was the undisputed king of world cricket, scoring runs across formats with an unmatched hunger. However, in the past few years, he has found himself grappling with inconsistency, failing to notch up big scores at the frequency he once did.
Realizing the urgency to reignite his red-ball form, Kohli has returned to domestic cricket after a 13-year absence, opting to play for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. His presence at Arun Jaitley Stadium for Delhi’s clash against Railways created a massive buzz, with fans flocking in large numbers to witness their icon in action. The crowd erupted in deafening chants of “Kohli, Kohli,” as the Indian superstar took the field, a testament to his undying popularity despite his recent struggles.
