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Younis Khan versus Virat Kohli in Tests

YK vs VK: Who is the better Test cricketer?

  • Younis Khan

    Votes: 34 68.0%
  • Virat Kohli

    Votes: 16 32.0%

  • Total voters
    50
You have to be a total clown to still argue that Kohli is a better Test batsman than Younis. There is no comparison anymore.

Also, as far as performances in Australia is concerned, it’s important to not lose perspective. Kohli has played 17 Tests in Australia and a lot of these Tests have been on high scoring pitches (400+ runs pitches).

Younis only played 6 Tests in Australia in his whole career and still maintained a 50 average.

His 175* in Sydney in 2017 vs Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon etc. is an illustration of what Younis would have done in Australia had he had the opportunity to play as frequently as Kohli has.

Younis is a better Test batsman than Kohli in all conditions. It is not even a debate. The only difference is their PR and fan power.

Younis Khan is a legendary Test batsman and someone who is bettered by only 1-2 Indian batsmen in history. He doesn’t get enough respect by the fans.
Without even bothering with a response as its not warranted. Easily Younis.

Not even close. Younis superior in tests everywhere except maybe SA? That's it.
 
Without even bothering with a response as its not warranted. Easily Younis.

Not even close. Younis superior in tests everywhere except maybe SA? That's

A fun fact that i found between these two batsman when going through the numbers is that Younis' top score in India is greater (267) than Virat's (254*) despite Kohli playing 75 more innings in the country.

This is also interesting for those who claim younis played in better batting conditions, purely by virtue of the number of innings (87 innings vs 12 innings) one can say with a high degree of certainty that Virat would have played more innings in flat conditions in India than Younis ever did to achieve that top score.

Another interesting fact was that while Younis has 6 double hundred's to Virat's 7, 4 of Khan's double hundreds were in away matches vs only 1 of Kohli's 7. This is not counting the double hundred Younis he got on the neutral ground in UAE vs australia.
 
Younis Khan is my all-time favourite Pakistan player and I actually thought Virat Kohli would end his test career well ahead of him.

But truth be told, it's not even worthy of debate. Younis' is so far ahead because VK didn't have his longevity nor was able to score big hundreds consistently like he could.

13 of YK's 34 test hundreds are 150+ scores.

Mamoon hit the nail on the head when he said "he doesn’t get enough respect by the fans". This is evident by some notable haters of his, who's more obsessed about that a single run in he had with Grant Flower.
 
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Kohli was a far better player at his peak but he has declined and nobody in Indian cricket is willing to take responsibility or action for that. This allows mediocre players like Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf to go past him and I think former has pretty much done it.
 
Younis Khan is my all-time favourite Pakistan player and I actually thought Virat Kohli would end his test career well ahead of him.

But truth be told, it's not even worthy of debate. Younis' is so far ahead because VK didn't have his longevity nor was able to score big hundreds consistently like he could.

13 of YK's 34 test hundreds are 150+ scores.

Mamoon hit the nail on the head when he said "he doesn’t get enough respect by the fans". This is evident by some notable haters of his, who's more obsessed about that a single run in he had with Grant Flower.
Want to talk about mythical peak?

Was kohli really better than Younis at his mythical peak for those 3 4 years ?

He got extremely lucky cause he played on uber flat pitches in 2014 where all pacers averaged above 30 etc in the series.

Then 2016 he failed badly in his prime vs aus at home in spinning pitches

Then did well in 2018 and 2021 vs SA. Ok will give him that one.


All we can say is virat at this peak is better than Younis vs pace and bounce

Vs swing and spin Younis is far better. Even at their p3aks.

Also let's not forget 2018 series vs england he was dropped multiple times. Got lucky vs Anderson.
 
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Younis Khan had legendary numbers. Kohli is great but he still is 1-step behind Younis when it comes to be consistent.

maintaining 50+ avg till your retirement is not everyone's cup of tea.
 
Younis Khan had legendary numbers. Kohli is great but he still is 1-step behind Younis when it comes to be consistent.

maintaining 50+ avg till your retirement is not everyone's cup of tea.
In Tests, Kohli is good, not great.
 
YK is a better test bat. Kohli just declined too hard in last 4-5 years.

Unless he continues to play for another 3-4 years and has a massive resurgence and averages 60+ in next 4 years he ain’t overtaking YK in tests.
 
Younis Khan vs Kohli in Test is like Costco (YK) vs Walmart (VK).

Younis Khan wins obviously.
What's wrong with wallmart?

Genuinely cause I'm not interested in US or Canada.

But to me all these costco's, woolsworth, wallmarts are all the same.
 
What's wrong with wallmart?

Genuinely cause I'm not interested in US or Canada.

But to me all these costco's, woolsworth, wallmarts are all the same.

Costco has better quality products.

Walmart is cheaper but quality is low too.

So, I used that analogy to describe Younis Khan vs Virat Kohli in Test.
 
Costco has better quality products.

Walmart is cheaper but quality is low too.

So, I used that analogy to describe Younis Khan vs Virat Kohli in Test.
Ic, that's why I keep saying come to Australia man. Warm, pleasant and woolsworth is the Bradman of convience stores.
 
Both Younis & Kohli are vastly superior to Sachin Tendulkar.
 
Younis khan was not the most talented, technically gifted player. May not be easy on eye like Dravid. Didn't achieve the crazy peak of Kohli. But he was a genuine hard worker. Played Tests like how MSD played ODI. Good percentage cricket. Probably a better role model for upcoming players as he modelled himself on Dravid. Never stood out as the top dog at any point of his career as there were a lot of big names in the world. Exited more or less at the right time without embarrassing himself like Kohli is doing now.
 
Both Younis & Kohli are vastly superior to Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli no. Kohli isn't in boot licking distance of Sachin in test cricket. In odi yes kohli is >

For YK maybe. Sachin is more consistent in every country, YK has more match wins, more iconic knocks and he played with a weaker test team and attained dominance.

It can be argued both ways but if people put YK above its not an issue.

In odi Sachin is > both.
 
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Kohli no. Kohli isn't in boot licking distance of Sachin in test cricket. In odi yes kohli is >

For YK maybe. Sachin is more consistent in every country, YK has more match wins, more iconic knocks and he played with a weaker test team and attained dominance.

It can be argued both ways but if people put YK above its not an issue.

In odi Sachin is > both.

I would pick my neighbours over Sachin, he got some fight in him over a big coward like Sachin that’s just my opinion and I’ve seen enough of both to see who got the chops in a dog fight.

As for the Younis/Sachin comparison, again only the neighbours will spew a narrative that Sachin is anywhere on Younis Khan’s level who has been a much bigger match winner and beat his biggest rivals to a bloody pulp. Since Younis made his debut for Pakistan he has played a crucial role in all their SENA wins, that’s no coincidence, he’s he GOAT, a man’s man when you look at what he had to endure personally and tough as old boots.
 
Younis Khan vs Kohli in Test is like Costco (YK) vs Walmart (VK).

Younis Khan wins obviously.
naa its not obvious.

Both are greats, and on Pakpassion we have seen some really weird comparisons. But this has to be the best comparison as both have good stats and both played at a similar position.

Younis's issue was consistency as he couldnt duplicate the performance again, but in a match once Younis crosses 50 you knew he would be scoring a daddy hundred. His scores used to be massive and it was important to take his wicket early on when he was in the 10s or 20s. The guy scored more 100s than 50s in test.. In subcontinent he was a great batsman. The guy had the ability to take down Lara's record.

Even in SENA Younis would be ahead as Younis not only outperform Kohli but he also outperformed Sangakarra in SENA.

The only thing against Kohli was that he didnt play games in UAE and played a major chunk of his games in SENA.
 
Statistically, Younis is ahead. But if we talk about perception and peer reputations, a lot of critics and armchair experts would rate Kohli very high despite his technical flaws.
 
At this peak Kohli was ahead but would take Younis overall, never had a dip like Kohli and is probably the third best Asian batsman against spin, after Sehwag and Tendulkar.
 
Younis Khan is arguably our greatest ever Test batsman.

Yes his technique was not that great and was circumspect against quality fast bowling but wow… that guy would murder spin bowling for fun.

His incredible fitness and work ethic ensured he could bat for long periods of time and always had an appetite for big runs.

His 267 against India in Bangalore will always be special for me given how we toured India after such a long time.

An ATG for me…
 
I would pick my neighbours over Sachin, he got some fight in him over a big coward like Sachin that’s just my opinion and I’ve seen enough of both to see who got the chops in a dog fight.

As for the Younis/Sachin comparison, again only the neighbours will spew a narrative that Sachin is anywhere on Younis Khan’s level who has been a much bigger match winner and beat his biggest rivals to a bloody pulp. Since Younis made his debut for Pakistan he has played a crucial role in all their SENA wins, that’s no coincidence, he’s he GOAT, a man’s man when you look at what he had to endure personally and tough as old boots.
That's fair
 
That's fair
Only one question. Kohli was playing all 3 formats. Younis was more of a test specialist. For me Younis is Pakistan's greatest ever batsman and easily amongst top 5 of all time in Asia.

But kohli playing all 3 formats may have affected his overall performance in tests? Could that be a possibility? Perhaps if he focused entirely on tests and gave up odi and t20 post 2019 ish maybe his average would still be 50 plus? That's possibly the one reason his performances dipped post 2020 ish. But the fall was just awful. So it's really tough to even take this into consideration to be honest when you evaluate kohli. His glaring holes outside off stump makes me believe that he relied heavily on reflexes. As he aged, he no longer could rely on it, hence the huge dip. Also he never truly had an impactful innings away from home in a winning cause. In sena so I guess even factoring in his commitment to all 3 formats, for me it's hard to pick kohli over Younis.
 
Only one question. Kohli was playing all 3 formats. Younis was more of a test specialist. For me Younis is Pakistan's greatest ever batsman and easily amongst top 5 of all time in Asia.

But kohli playing all 3 formats may have affected his overall performance in tests? Could that be a possibility? Perhaps if he focused entirely on tests and gave up odi and t20 post 2019 ish maybe his average would still be 50 plus? That's possibly the one reason his performances dipped post 2020 ish. But the fall was just awful. So it's really tough to even take this into consideration to be honest when you evaluate kohli. His glaring holes outside off stump makes me believe that he relied heavily on reflexes. As he aged, he no longer could rely on it, hence the huge dip. Also he never truly had an impactful innings away from home in a winning cause. In sena so I guess even factoring in his commitment to all 3 formats, for me it's hard to pick kohli over Younis.
This is a fair argument and I don't mind it at all.

I've used this argument for Travis so no reason why it can't be used for kohli however the difference is that Travis isn't consistently stuck in deja vu mode and getting dismissed non stop in tests in the exact same manner 24/7.
 
At this peak Kohli was ahead but would take Younis overall, never had a dip like Kohli and is probably the third best Asian batsman against spin, after Sehwag and Tendulkar.
That is debatable. Heck even within Pakistan guys like Zaheer Abbas, Salim Malik were good against spin. From India we had guys like Sidhu, Azharuddin, Ganguly were all good against spin. It was a question of "Who is not good against spin". Azharuddin could literally twist his hand and play against spin.
 
That is debatable. Heck even within Pakistan guys like Zaheer Abbas, Salim Malik were good against spin. From India we had guys like Sidhu, Azharuddin, Ganguly were all good against spin. It was a question of "Who is not good against spin". Azharuddin could literally twist his hand and play against spin.
Lol we can't play for spin at all now

What a fall
 
Younis Khan is arguably our greatest ever Test batsman.

Yes his technique was not that great and was circumspect against quality fast bowling but wow… that guy would murder spin bowling for fun.

His incredible fitness and work ethic ensured he could bat for long periods of time and always had an appetite for big runs.

His 267 against India in Bangalore will always be special for me given how we toured India after such a long time.

An ATG for me…
Younis Miandad inzi anwar hanif
Yousuf

These are the best ever Pakistani batsmen

Zaheer abbas was poor vs pace and bounce so excluded him
 
The gap has gotten big now. Younis would possibly make the top 10 Asian batsman in Tests. Kohli won't.
How do you think of my top 10 Asian batsmen list bro? (Ranked in order)

1) Sachin Tendulkar

2) Sunil Gavaskar (ranked > Dravid due to dravid being poor in 2 countries + Gavaskar was more dominant against the top team of his era aka windies while dravid was just okay vs the top team of his era. + Gavaskar was dominat against Australia as well and aus was good back then too)

3) Rahul Dravid

4) Younis Khan

5) Hanif Mohammad (Based of era comparisons, otherwise he probably ranks significantly lower)

6) Kumar Sangakkara (at peak he was in sachin's tier, overall he ranks here tbh)

7) Javed Miandad

8) Mohammad Yousaf

9) Inzimam ul Haq

10) Virender Sehwag

Honorable mentions to Laxman and Mahela Jaywardene, their good just not top 10 worthy. Kohli at peak would rank at no 2 > Sanga but below Sachin ironically. What a hard fall off tbh.
 
Younis much better test player than Kohli

Has scored a hundred in every country he has played

An all time great
 
Younis is in my asia xi
Sehwag
Gavaskar
Sachin
Sanga
Younis
Miandad
Imran
Kapil
Wasim
Bumrah
Murali
 
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