Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwellhas named Virat Kohli as the finest one-day batter he has ever encountered in international cricket. Maxwell highlighted Kohli's exceptional ability to time the ball and place it precisely into gaps across the field, describing his performance level as distinctly superior to other players he has faced.
Maxwell made these remarks on the podcast, hosted by former Australian cricketers Brad Haddin and Alyssa Healy. Speaking on his all-time selections across formats,
Maxwell first addressed one-day cricket and offered his assessment of Kohli's standing in the format.
"The best I ever saw in one-day cricket, is Kohli. Like, some of the innings he has played against us have been ridiculous. He has just got more time. He is able to put the ball where he wants in the field, and yeah, just a different level," Maxwell said on Keeping it Cricket podcast.
Kohli's one-day record and Maxwell's assessment
Kohli's one-day record substantiates Maxwell's assessment. The Indian batter has accumulated 14,941 runs across 314 ODIs and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, including 54 centuries and 79 fifties. These figures place him among the most prolific run-scorers in one-day international history.
Kohli's performance in successful run-chase situations further underscores his value in the format. He has scored 6,235 runs in 111 matches and 105 innings during successful chases at an average of 89.07, with 24 centuries and 29 fifties in those circumstances. This record demonstrates his ability to deliver under pressure when his team requires runs to win.
In 2026 ODIs to date, Kohli has maintained strong form with 384 runs across six innings at an average of 64.00 and a strike rate exceeding 106. His tally in this period includes one century and three fifties, showing continued consistency in the format. Maxwell's assessment reflects Kohli's sustained excellence across all phases of one-day cricket.
In Test cricket, he chose none other than his teammate, Steve Smith. Smith is Australia’s fourth-highest Test run-scorer, having amassed 10,920 runs in 125 matches and 223 innings at an average of 56.00, including 37 centuries and 45 fifties, with a best score of 239.
"I got to be a part of the Test squad in 2017 in that series in India (scoring 499 runs in eight innings, with three centuries) where he peeled off a couple of hundreds and was just batting on a different planet. Oh, I think he got three hundreds during that tour. He was just incredible. I felt lucky to be a part of that squad just to be able to witness that," said Maxwell.
