Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? Which one is the better batter?

Both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are outstanding batters for their respective countries.  Kohli and Babar both bat at no. 3 for their respective countries in limited overs format and at no. 4 in test cricket. In this piece, we will analyze the stats of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam in World Cricket forms.

Virat Kohli’s three-and-a-half-year reign as the top-ranked One-Day International (ODI) batsman finally ended. After a stunning batting performance in South Africa, Babar Azam knocked him off the top position.

How did Babar Azam Got Top position in ODI Batsman?

Babar guided Pakistan to a 2-1 victory in an ODI tournament in South Africa in 2021, hitting 228 runs at 76 balls. However, last year, Virat Kohli captained India to a 2-1 win over England, making 129 runs at 43 balls. A gap in the Indian captain’s performance has aided Babar’s ascension up a mountain climb.

Babar has now joined an elite group of Pakistani batsmen who have topped the ODI rankings, including Zaheer Abbas (1983), great batsman Javed Miandad (1988), and Mohammad Yousuf  (2003).

The success means a great deal to Pakistan cricketers, which has struggled in the past few decades to re-invent itself in the shade of their famed neighbors and arch-nemesis India.

Against all odds, Babar’s artful batsmanship has written a new chapter in cricket history. He is an inspiration to many hitters throughout the world, and his success has prompted comparisons to his Indian rival, Virat Kohli, a player who has continued to break bounds in this sport.

The comparison is founded on their established standards to ensure consistency through their traditional batting techniques. It’s not simply the number of runs they score; it’s also their appealing styles that make people take notice.

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam overall Batting records

1. Virat Kohli: 33 years 95 days Old

2. Babar Azam

Looking at the overall figures, it’s clear that the far more seasoned Kohli has established standards of batsmanship, which Babar is attempting to achieve. While Kohli is already a legend in the game, Babar is establishing his name.

What Do their recent scores suggest?

Virat Kohli:

Babar Azam:

We can see why Babar is causing a stir for all the correct reasons

Just Kane Williamson (73.52), Marnus Labuschagne (66.81), Rohit Sharma (64.37), and Steve Smith (63.85) have scored more than Babar in Test cricket throughout this time (starting in 2019). In one-day internationals, Babar is unrivaled.

In last 2 years Babar Azam is way ahead of Virat Kohli and is probably the best batter in World Cricket.

How successful was Virat Kohli after the same number of games as Babar Azam?

Babar Azam:

Virat Kohli after the same number of Games played as Babar Azam

It’s difficult to choose one above the other because the aforementioned matches in Kohli’s rankings across formats occurred at separate points in his game.

Though Babar has a higher Test record at this point, he has only one century outside of the Deccan. In comparison, Kohli had already crushed rivals in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. 5 of Kohli’s eight centuries had come from overseas.

In one-day internationals, Babar is the leader, although Kohli played his 80th match as a 23-year-old. Though his figures show a high level of consistency, he had yet to reach his peak and become the batting monster that he later became.

As a result, comparing similar ages will provide us with a more complete picture.

When Babar was 26 years and 6 months old

When Virat Kohli was 26 years and 6 months old

In T20Is, the figures are comparable. Kohli had already won the World Cup Player of the Series award. India’s failure to play many T20Is did not help his argument. Kohli had previously captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for four IPL seasons.

In terms of Tests, Kohli unquestionably has the upper hand. Kohli also has an advantage in the 50-to-100 conversion efficiency.

Conclusion:

Though Virat Kohli is trailing Babar Azam in some elements of T20I cricket, he is far ahead of him in others. In terms of statistics, Virat Kohli is a better batsman than his Pakistani opponent but Babar have also played lesser matches and is also younger than him.

Read More: Top 7 Players Expected to Perform in India Vs West Indies T20I Series

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