1 week Ago
India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said on Tuesday that Pakistan's former captain Babar Azam "should not be mentioned in the same line" as Virat Kohli, calling out a 'futile' comparison between the two batting superstars. In a YouTube video, Ashwin was hopeful that an out-of-form Babar, who is currently rested from the remainder of the home series against England, will score runs in the future but ruled out any more comparison with his fellow countryman. "Definitely, if he is given a chance, he will score runs.
If there is class, that is okay. I feel we should end this debate once and for all. First of all, across the border, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same line," Ashwin said.
The 37-year-old stated that even though he rates Babar as "outstanding", Kohli's credentials are "something else". "I am very sorry, I really rate Babar Azam as an outstanding player, but Virat Kohli's credentials are something else. Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done, no one has done that in world cricket.
As far as I know, at this point, if anyone comes close, it is Joe Root in Test cricket," he added. Kohli’s legacy as one of the greatest cricketers of all time is underscored by his remarkable achievements across all formats. With 27,041 runs in 535 international matches at an average of 53.
23, 80 centuries, and 140 fifties, Kohli stands tall as one of the all-time greats. His best score of 254* and his ability to consistently deliver in all formats make him a standout player. Kohli's leadership helped India achieve the top spot in ICC Test rankings, and as a player, he has won every major ICC trophy—U19 World Cup, Cricket World Cup, Champions Trophy, and T20 World Cup.
He is the fourth-highest run-scorer across formats in cricket history. While Kohli's overall record is staggering, his dominance in ODIs is particularly noteworthy. In 295 ODI matches, he has scored 13,906 runs at an exceptional average of 58.
18, with 50 centuries and 72 fifties, cementing his place as one of the greatest to ever play the 50-over format. His highest ODI score, 183, is a testament to his ability to anchor and dominate innings. In comparison, Pakistan's Babar Azam, who made his international debut in 2015, is still in the early stages of building his own legacy.
Babar has played 294 matches across formats, accumulating 13,836 runs at an average of 47.54, with 31 centuries and 94 fifties. While his overall numbers are impressive, particularly given his relatively shorter career, Babar is still behind Kohli in terms of total runs and centuries.
However, his ODI record stands out, with 5,729 runs in 117 ODIs at an average of 56.72, including 19 centuries and 32 fifties. Like Kohli, ODIs are Babar’s strongest format, and he is often regarded as one of the best in the 50-over game.
Despite his consistent performance in ODIs, Babar is currently facing challenges in Test cricket. Ahead of Pakistan's second Test against England, Babar was rested for the remaining two Tests, along with key pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah..
