IND vs PAK LIVE – Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam – On Sunday, during cricket’s biggest rivalry, India vs Pakistan, there will be another battle — Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam. The two with similar aggressive playing styles and hunger for runs have kept fans on the edge. But with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) calling Babar ‘the King’, King Kohli who has had a great run in T20Is, will be eager to respond when India face Pakistan on Sunday in the T20 World Cup in Dubai. Follow INDIA vs PAKISTAN & T20 World Cup Live updates on InsideSport.in
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IND vs PAK LIVE: PCB calls Babar Azam ‘KING of batting’, day for ‘Real King’ Virat Kohli to prove otherwise: Follow INDIA vs PAKISTAN LIVE Updates
With a 40+ average on all three formats, Babar Azam has emerged as one of the finest batsmen in the last four years. Virat Kohli on the other hand has been the most consistent batsman over the last decade, averaging 50+ in all three formats. Even though his form has dipped a little in ODI and Tests, he has still scored at a staggering average of 64.45 in T20Is in the last two years.
IND vs PAK LIVE: PCB calls Babar Azam ‘KING of batting’, will ‘Real King’ Virat Kohli prove otherwise on Sunday? Follow INDIA vs PAKISTAN LIVE Updates
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram also acknowledged that Virat is still a class above and the two can only be compared after Babar plays more matches with the same consistency.
“Virat Kohli is Virat Kohli. He has dominated world cricket, scored all those runs over these years. He has led India. Babar Azam has started captaining Pakistan only now. But as far his technique is concerned, is very good to watch and very consistent in all formats. He is learning his captaincy, he is a quick learner. So, it’s unfair to compare those two now. But Babar is definitely heading towards the position where Virat Kohli is now,” Wasim Akram told India Today.
IND vs PAK LIVE: Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli stat attack – How do the two stand?
Virat Kohli stats:
ODIs (Overall): 12,169 runs @ 59.07 avg
Tests (Overall): 7,765 runs @ 51.08 avg
T20Is (Overall): 3,159 runs @ 52.65 avg
In last 2 years: Tests: 699 runs @ 30.39 avg
In last 2 years: ODIs: 649 runs @ 43.26 avg
In last 2 years: T20Is: 709 runs @ 64.45 avg
In last 4 years: Tests: 3107 runs @ 53.56 avg
In last 4 years: ODIs: 3281 runs @ 71.32 avg
In last 4 years: T20Is: 1307 runs @ 52.28 avg
IND vs PAK LIVE: PCB calls Babar Azam ‘KING of batting’, will ‘Real King’ Virat Kohli prove otherwise on Sunday? Follow INDIA vs PAKISTAN LIVE Updates
ODIs (Overall): 3985 runs @ 56.92 avg
Tests (Overall): 2362 runs @ 42.94 avg
T20Is (Overall): 2204 runs @ 46.89 avg
In last 2 years: Tests: 1127 runs @ 56.35 avg
In last 2 years: ODIs: 626 runs @ 78.25 avg
In last 2 years: T20Is: 914 runs @ 43.52 avg
In last 4 years: Tests: 1887 runs @ 53.91 avg
In last 4 years: ODIs: 2227 runs @ 55.67 avg
In last 4 years: T20Is: 1772 runs @ 45.43 avg
IND vs PAK LIVE: However, Mohammad Asif, former Pakistan fast bowler has kept Babar Azam ahead in his list. He believes the little difference in playing style will help Azam in the future.
“Kohli is a bottom-hand player. He is doing well because of his fitness and it is supporting him. The moment he will face a decline, I don’t think Kohli can make a comeback. In fact, Babar is an upper-hand player like Sachin. His bat movement is fluent like Sachin. People say Kohli is better than Tendulkar. I say no. Virat does not even come close to Sachin. This is my opinion,” Mohammad Asif said.
IND vs PAK LIVE: PCB calls Babar Azam ‘KING of batting’, will ‘Real King’ Virat Kohli prove otherwise on Sunday? Follow INDIA vs PAKISTAN LIVE Updates
IND vs PAK LIVE: Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam — who is ahead?
- Even though Babar Azam leads in ICC T20Is rankings, Kohli has maintained an average of 64.45.
- It’s in the ODIs and Tests where Babar has trumped Kohli the last two years. In ODIs and Tests, Babar Azam has 78.25 and 56.35 respectively, compared to Virat Kohli’s 43.26 (ODIs) and 30.39 (Tests).
- But that’s just the last two years. Comparing their stats in the last four years, Kohli and Babar are almost equal on Test averages. If Virat has averaged 53.56 in Tests, Azam is slightly ahead with 53.91.
- In ODIs, Azam has averaged 55.67 while Kohli has an average of 71.32 including 12 hundreds and 17 half-centuries, a leap better than his Pakistani rival.
But on Sunday, when India face Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli will be eager to prove otherwise, especially considering it will be Kohli’s last T20I match against Pakistan as a captain. Kohli has announced he will step down as the captain from T20Is after the T20 World Cup. Furthermore, Virat Kohli enjoys great form when facing Pakistan. In 6 T20I matches, he has scored 254 runs at a brilliant average of 84.67.
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