Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam is one the biggest player battles to watch out for in the game of cricket. The rivalry has been formed by the experts and fans since the Pakistani player climbed the ladders of world cricket. Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam is a contest that runs along with the India vs Pakistan clashes.

Both batters have created benchmarks in international cricket and have been an important part of their respective side’s batting line-up. Virat Kohli is the senior among the pair, making his debut way back in 2008, seven years before Babar Azam broke into the international scene. The debate on the two batting superstars is worth a longer and broader discussion rather than putting it in a nutshell. Let’s decode the numbers of Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam.

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Record Comparison - ODI

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ODIs is as close as it can get. Kohli stamped his authority in ODIs by scoring a truckload of runs, especially in run-chases, during his golden phase between 2012 and 2019. Kohli is the fastest batter to reach 10,000 ODI runs, taking 205 innings, 10 years, and 67 days to achieve the feat. He is also the fastest to rack up 11,000 (222 innings), 12,000 (242 innings), and 13,000 (267 innings) runs in the format. Kohli has so far scored 13985 runs in 286 ODI innings at an average of 57.79.

Babar, meanwhile, has amassed 6083 runs in 124 innings at an average of 55.81 and has already broken several records set by Kohli. Babar became the second-fastest batter to reach 4000 and 5000 ODI runs. He took 97 innings to surpass former South Africa batter Hashim Amla’s achievement of 101 innings to reach 5000 ODI runs. He is also the joint-fastest to rack up 6000 runs alongside Hashim Amla. Both batters took 123 innings each to achieve the feat.

Kohli has 73 fifties and 50 centuries in the 50-over format, whereas Babar has 35 half-centuries and 19 centuries. Many experts believe Babar will end up shattering many world records, including the ones set by Kohli himself.

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Record Comparison - T20

Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli in T20Is is very interesting. Kohli played 125 T20Is before announcing his retirement last year, while Babar has played 128 matches so far. With 4188 runs in 117 innings, Kohli is the third-highest run-getter in T20 Internationals. Meanwhile, Babar is the second-highest run-scorer with 4223 runs against his name in 121 innings.

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Record Comparison - Tests

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in Test cricket is a far-lopsided debate and cannot draw comparisons at the stage. Kohli has played the format for over a decade and scored over 9000 runs with 31 fifties and 30 centuries.

Kohli has amassed 9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, in contrast to Babar’s 4235 runs in 59 Tests at an average of 42.78. The Pakistan batter has accounted for 29 Test fifties and nine hundred in the last seven years.

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Who is the best?

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam is one of the most debatable questions in international cricket. After looking at all the numbers one can conclude that while Kohli is way ahead in terms of experience, however, Babar being junior to him cannot be ignored. As time passes by, the Pakistan batter will be tested now and then with challenges likely to come his way and build the stature of Kohli across international formats.

Kohli has been a batting mainstay in the Indian team for over a decade and for now, we can concede him the best between the two. But Babar, who is regarded as the best all-format player in modern-day cricket, will likely have a say in the coming years.