Fab 4 in Cricket 2025: Root, Kohli, Smith & Williamson – Stats & Records

The term “Fab Four” in cricket was coined in 2014 by the legendary New Zealand batsman, the late Martin Crowe. A great thinker of the game, Crowe had a keen eye for spotting talent. He predicted that four relatively young batsmen would define the next generation of cricket. Those 4 batsmen are none other than Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steven Smith.

Interestingly, Crowe was no stranger to innovation. He had earlier developed Cricket Max. It was an experimental fast-paced format in the 1990s, which later inspired some aspects of T20 cricket. In the same way, his prediction about the Fab Four proved to be visionary. A decade later, these players are indeed considered the standard-bearers of modern batting.

Why the Fab Four Became Special? 

What makes the Fab Four unique is not just their mountain of runs but also their ability to adapt to different conditions and formats. Each of them has faced immense pressure as a leading batsman for their country:

• Virat Kohli became the face of Indian cricket post-Sachin Tendulkar and carried the team across formats.

• Joe Root shouldered England’s batting during tough overseas tours and rebuilt their Test dominance.

• Steven Smith rose from being a leg-spinner to one of the most prolific Test batsmen since Don Bradman.

• Kane Williamson brought calmness and class to New Zealand cricket, guiding them to historic finals and titles.

Together, they symbolize the balance between tradition and modernity in cricket.

Fab Four Players Stats and Comparison 

Let’s now break down their records across ODIs, Tests, T20Is, and the IPL to see where each one stands.

Fab Four Stats in ODIs

One-day international cricket is a format where these batsmen have cemented their reputations. Kohli in particular is often considered the greatest ODI batsman of all time.

Batting:

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	302	290	14181	183	58.11	51	74
Kane Williamson	173	165	7235	148	49.21	15	47
Joe Root	180	169	7126	166*	49.14	18	42
Steven Smith	170	154	5800	164	43.28	12	35

Bowling:

Player	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling	Average	Economy
Virat Kohli	302	50	5	1/13	136.0	6.16
Kane Williamson	173	65	37	4/22	35.41	5.36
Joe Root	180	77	28	3/52	61.85	5.92
Steven Smith	170	40	28	3/16	34.68	5.41

Fab Four Stats in Test Cricket

The true measure of greatness in cricket lies in Test cricket, where temperament and skill are the ultimate test. Smith and Root dominate here, with Williamson not far behind.

Batting:

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	123	210	9230	254*	46.85	30	31
Kane Williamson	105	186	9276	251	54.88	33	37
Joe Root	158	288	13543	262	51.29	39	66
Steven Smith	119	212	10477	239	56.00	36	43

Bowling:

Player	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling	Average	Economy
Virat Kohli	123	11	0	0/0	–	2.88
Kane Williamson	105	67	30	4/44	40.23	3.37
Joe Root	157	164	73	5/8	47.26	3.35
Steven Smith	119	62	19	3/18	53.05	4.11

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Fab Four Stats in T20Is

Root and Williamson’s performances in this shorter format have been limited, while Kohli continues to dominate as one of the best batsmen in this format.

Batting:

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest Score	Average	100s	50s
Virat Kohli	125	117	4188	122	48.7	1	38
Kane Williamson	93	90	2575	95	33.01	0	18
Joe Root	32	30	893	90	35.72	0	5
Steven Smith	67	55	1094	90	24.86	0	5

Bowling:

Player	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling	Average	Economy
Virat Kohli	125	13	4	1/13	51.0	8.05
Kane Williamson	93	12	6	2/16	27.33	8.34
Joe Root	32	9	6	2/9	23.17	9.93
Steven Smith	67	17	17	3/20	22.24	7.79

Fab Four in IPL

Virat Kohli has dominated the IPL, while other teams have played a mediocre or limited role in the league.

Batting:

Player	Mat	Inn	Runs	HS	Avg	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
Virat Kohli	267	259	8661	113*	39.54	132.65	8	63	771	291
Kane Williamson	79	77	2128	89	35.46	125.61	0	18	185	64
Joe Root	3	1	10	10	10.00	66.66	0	0	1	0
Steve Smith	103	93	2485	101	34.51	128.09	1	11	225	60

Bowling:

Player	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling	Average	Economy
Virat Kohli	267	26	4	2/25	92.0	8.8
Kane Williamson	79	2	0	0/7	–	10.33
Joe Root	3	1	0	0/14	–	7.0
Steven Smith	103	1	0	0/5	–	0.0

Career Highlights of the Fab Four 

1. Virat Kohli – The Run Machine 

• Fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 ODI runs.

• Most double centuries as a Test captain (7).

• First to average 50+ across formats simultaneously.

• Record 973 runs in a single IPL season (2016).

Kohli’s aggression, fitness, and chase-master skills redefined modern Indian cricket.

2. Kane Williamson – The Calm Anchor 

• First New Zealand batsman to cross 19,000 international runs.

• Led NZ to the 2019 World Cup final and 2021 WTC title.

• Most Test centuries for New Zealand (33).

Williamson embodies composure and sportsmanship, becoming the backbone of Kiwi cricket.

3. Joe Root – The Classical Technician 

• England’s highest Test run-scorer (13,543+).

• First player with 3,000 Test runs against India.

• Holds record for most Test catches (211).

• ICC Test Cricketer of the Year (2021).

Root’s ability against spin and in tough Asian conditions makes him England’s finest Test batsman.

4. Steven Smith – The Unconventional Genius 

• Second-best Test average (56.00) among modern batsmen.

• 774 runs in the 2019 Ashes-a series for the ages.

• Twice ICC Test Player of the Year.

• Member of Australia’s 2015 World Cup-winning squad.

Smith’s unusual technique has often drawn comparisons to Bradman, making him a modern-day great.

Who Leads the Fab Four Race? 

• Tests: Steven Smith leads on average, while Root leads in total runs.

• ODIs: Kohli is undisputed king with 51 centuries.

• T20Is: Kohli again dominates with over 4,000 runs.

• IPL: Kohli far ahead in runs and centuries.

In short:

• Kohli dominates white-ball cricket.

• Smith and Root rule Test cricket.

• Williamson balances all three formats with consistency.

Conclusion 

The Fab Four are not just statistical giants; they are cultural icons of cricket. Each player has shaped the game in their own way. While Kohli and Smith have moved away from a particular format, their legacy is unrivalled. Root continues to dominate Tests, while Williamson’s leadership and class have been invaluable for New Zealand.

More than statistics, the Fab Four show how modern cricket is about adaptability, excellence and inspiration. Crowe’s prediction didn’t just come true; it created a golden era of batting that fans will remember for decades.

FAQs: People Also Ask

Q1. Who coined the term Fab Four in cricket?

The term “Fab Four” was coined by former New Zealand great Martin Crowe in 2014. He even predicted that Kohli, Smith, Root and Williamson would dominate world cricket.

Q2. Who is the best ODI batsman among the Fab Four?

Virat Kohli is considered the greatest ODI batsman of all time, having scored over 14,000 runs and a record 51 centuries.

Q3. Who has the highest Test average among the Fab Four?

Steven Smith is at the top of Test cricket with a remarkable average of 56.00.

Q4. Which Fab Four player has the most Test runs?

Joe Root holds the record with 13,543+ Test runs, making him England’s all-time leading Test batsman.

Q5. Are all Fab Four players still active in 2025?

As of 2025:

• Kohli has retired from Tests and T20Is.

• Smith has retired from ODIs.

• Root and Williamson continue to play across formats.

Read Next: List of Double Centuries in ODI Cricket: Highest Individual Scores in ODI

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