Babar Azam Vs. Virat Kohli
Between August 2017 and April 2021, the former Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli, held a dominant position in the ODI circuit that seemed unassailable. No other player could topple him from his number 1 ODI ranking during this period. However, this all changed on April 19, 2021, when Babar Azam brought an end to Kohli's reign of 1,258 days as the top-ranked ODI batter.
The Babar Azam vs. Virat Kohli debate has been a hot topic ever since the Pakistan captain made his international debut in 2015. Babar's early career achievements bore striking similarities to those of Kohli during his U-19 days, fueling discussions about their comparative potential.
By the time Babar played his first international match for Pakistan, Kohli had already participated in over 150 One-Day Internationals, amassing more than 20 centuries. Fast forward to 2022, and Babar Azam has become the fastest player to reach 2,000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in just 47 matches compared to Kohli's 56 matches.
Comparison
Let's dive deeper into the statistics to compare these two modern cricketing greats:
T20 Internationals:
In T20 internationals, Kohli has played 115 matches and scored 4,008 runs with an impressive average of 52.73. Babar, with 99 matches under his belt, has accumulated 3,355 runs at an average of 41.41. Kohli's consistency is noteworthy, maintaining an average above 50 despite playing 16 matches more than Babar.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs):
Kohli's ODI record is outstanding, with 12,809 runs in 271 matches at an average of 57.69. Babar Azam, with 4,813 runs in 95 matches, boasts an impressive average of 59.41. Kohli is not only one of the six players in history to have scored more than 12,000 runs in ODIs but also the fastest to reach the 12,000-run milestone in just 251 matches.
Test Cricket:
In Test cricket, Kohli leads with 8,416 runs in 108 matches, while Babar has scored 3,696 runs in 47 Test matches. Kohli's dominance extends to being the fastest player to reach 7,000 runs in Test cricket, accomplishing this feat in just 81 matches.
Centuries Across All Formats:
Kohli's record of 74 international centuries across all formats dwarfs Babar's 28 tons.
Captaincy Records:
In terms of captaincy, Babar Azam has led Pakistan in T20Is, with 40 wins and 21 losses in 66 matches. Kohli, during his T20I captaincy stint from 2017 to 2021, secured 30 wins in 50 matches.
In Test cricket, Kohli captained India in 68 matches, with 40 wins, 17 losses, and 11 draws. Babar, who took charge of the Test team in 2020, has led Pakistan in 18 Tests, securing 8 wins and 6 losses.
For ODIs, Babar has captained Pakistan in 21 matches, with 13 wins and 7 losses. Kohli, on the other hand, captained India in 95 ODIs, winning 65 and losing 27.
The Babar Azam vs. Virat Kohli comparison remains a subject of fascination among cricket enthusiasts, with both players leaving an indelible mark on the sport's history. Their unique styles and records continue to spark debates and discussions among fans worldwide.

Comments
Post a Comment