Cricketer Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are two such names that have managed to carve their way into the records of the game. These two modern-day cricket legends have often been compared to each other, taking into account their playing styles, statistics, and achievements. Today, The Friday Times (TFT) will compare Babar Azam and Virat Kohli.
Batting Style
Both Babar Azam and Virat Kohli share a similar right-handed batting style. Babar Azam is a master of conventional shots, while Kohli is known to be aggressive and dominates the bowlers with his strike rate. Babar's elegant timing and textbook shots are often compared to legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Kohli, on the other hand, plays a range of innovative and instinctive shots, making him a difficult batsman to bowl to.
Statistics
In terms of statistics, both players have remarkable records. Babar Azam has scored 4,813 runs in 95 ODI matches at an average of 59.41, with 17 centuries and 24 half-centuries. His Test-match statistics also speak volumes, with 3,696 runs at an average of 48.63, including 9 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli has a phenomenal record in both ODI and Test cricket. In his 274 ODI matches, Kohli has scored 12,898 runs at an average of 57.32, with 46 centuries and 65 half-centuries. In Test cricket, he has scored 8,416 runs in 108 matches, averaging 48.93, including 28 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
Achievements
Both Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have achieved significant milestones in their careers, making them modern-day cricket legends. Babar Azam became the fastest player to reach 1000, 2000, and 3000 runs in T20 internationals. He also reached the milestone of 2000 runs in ODI cricket, becoming the third-fastest player to do so. Kohli holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket by an Indian, scoring a hundred in just 52 balls. He has also won many individual awards, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Babar, also following in the footsteps of Kohli, managed to grab both the major men’s cricket awards, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in the 2022 ICC Awards, beating competitive fields in both categories.
Comparing Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is not easy, as both players have their distinct styles of play and contributions to the world of cricket. They are both at the prime of their careers and have already made their mark in the history books of cricket.
However, there is no denying that Kohli has achieved more in terms of numbers and awards, but Babar Azam is not far behind. Ultimately, both players will go down as legends of the game, leaving behind a legacy that cricket fans will cherish forever.
Batting Style
Both Babar Azam and Virat Kohli share a similar right-handed batting style. Babar Azam is a master of conventional shots, while Kohli is known to be aggressive and dominates the bowlers with his strike rate. Babar's elegant timing and textbook shots are often compared to legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. Kohli, on the other hand, plays a range of innovative and instinctive shots, making him a difficult batsman to bowl to.
Statistics
In terms of statistics, both players have remarkable records. Babar Azam has scored 4,813 runs in 95 ODI matches at an average of 59.41, with 17 centuries and 24 half-centuries. His Test-match statistics also speak volumes, with 3,696 runs at an average of 48.63, including 9 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
Virat Kohli has a phenomenal record in both ODI and Test cricket. In his 274 ODI matches, Kohli has scored 12,898 runs at an average of 57.32, with 46 centuries and 65 half-centuries. In Test cricket, he has scored 8,416 runs in 108 matches, averaging 48.93, including 28 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
Achievements
Both Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have achieved significant milestones in their careers, making them modern-day cricket legends. Babar Azam became the fastest player to reach 1000, 2000, and 3000 runs in T20 internationals. He also reached the milestone of 2000 runs in ODI cricket, becoming the third-fastest player to do so. Kohli holds the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket by an Indian, scoring a hundred in just 52 balls. He has also won many individual awards, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Babar, also following in the footsteps of Kohli, managed to grab both the major men’s cricket awards, the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and the Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in the 2022 ICC Awards, beating competitive fields in both categories.
Comparing Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is not easy, as both players have their distinct styles of play and contributions to the world of cricket. They are both at the prime of their careers and have already made their mark in the history books of cricket.
However, there is no denying that Kohli has achieved more in terms of numbers and awards, but Babar Azam is not far behind. Ultimately, both players will go down as legends of the game, leaving behind a legacy that cricket fans will cherish forever.