[Watch] "I always prefer Virat Kohli" - Chandrababu Naidu reacts after being likened to MS Dhoni
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said he prefers Virat Kohli after being compared to MS Dhoni with regard to leadership. He made the statement while appearing as a guest on the 'Unstoppable with NBK' show hosted by actor, producer and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna.
Kohli and Dhoni are two of India's biggest cricket superstars. While both the players have always been effusive in their praise of each other, fans of the two legends keep drawing constant comparisons between them even though Dhoni retired from international cricket back in 2020.
During his appearance on the first episode of Unstoppable with NBK Season 4, host Balakrishna made an interesting statement and told Naidu:
"You are a leader like MS Dhoni, I'm a player like Virat Kohli."
Responding to this observation, the guest on the show replied:
"I always prefer Virat Kohli."
Watch the video below:
Dhoni is often regarded as India's greatest captain in the white-ball format. He is after all the only leader in world cricket to win all three limited-overs ICC trophies. The Ranchi-born cricketer led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Under Kohli, India were ranked No. 1 in Test cricket, but finished runners-up in the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC), going down to New Zealand in the final in Southampton. They were also runners-up in the 2017 Champions Trophy and semifinalists in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Comparing MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli's captaincy stats
Dhoni led India in 60 Test matches, winning 27 and losing 18, while 15 matches ended in a draw. He had a win percentage of 45 as a leader in Test cricket. Kohli captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40 and losing 17, while 11 games ended in a draw. He had a win percentage of 58.82 in Tests.
Looking at ODI numbers, Dhoni captained India in exactly 200 matches, winning 110 and losing 74. Five games were tied, while 11 produced no results. He had a win percentage of 55 in the format. Kohli captained India in 95 one-day games, winning 65 and losing 27. One game ended in a tie, while two produced no results. Kohli had a win percentage of 68.42 in the format.
Finally looking at their numbers in T20Is, Dhoni captained the Men in Blue in 72 matches, winning 41 of them and losing 28. On the other hand, Kohli led India in 50 games, winning 30 and losing 16.