Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Who Is the Better Batsman in Cricket Today?

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are two of the most prominent cricketers in the world today. Both have earned a reputation for their incredible batting prowess and consistency in all formats of the game. This article provides a statistical comparison of their performance in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Test matches, and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) to help cricket enthusiasts understand how these two cricketing giants stack up against each other.

Babar Azam is now the number 1-ranked ODI batter in the world rankings, while Virat Kolhi is ranked 8th.

Virat Kohli (India): Known for his exceptional batting in all formats, Kohli has consistently been one of the world’s leading run-scorers. He has numerous records and is often praised for his technical prowess and consistency.

Babar Azam (Pakistan): Babar Azam is often considered one of the most promising young talents in world cricket. He is known for his stylish strokeplay and consistency in all formats.

Batting Style

• Virat Kohli: Kohli is known for his classical and technically sound batting style. He plays textbook cricket shots and has a wide range of strokes. His ability to pace an innings and chase down targets in ODIs and T20Is is legendary.
• Babar Azam: Babar’s batting is characterized by elegance and finesse. He relies on timing and placement, often compared to the likes of Joe Root and Kane Williamson. He has been praised for his cover drives and ability to play gracefully on both front and back foot.

Consistency

• Virat Kohli: Kohli has set an incredibly high standard for consistency in all formats of the game. His ability to score runs regularly and convert starts into big scores is remarkable. He’s known for his fitness and work ethic.
• Babar Azam: Babar has been steadily improving and has shown remarkable consistency, particularly in ODIs and T20Is. He’s Pakistan’s batting mainstay and has been compared to greats like Javed Miandad.

Records

• Virat Kohli: Kohli holds numerous records, including the fastest century in ODIs by an Indian, the most centuries in ODIs, and the highest run-scorer in T20Is.
• Babar Azam: While not as decorated with records as Kohli, Babar has achieved several milestones, such as becoming the fastest to 1000 T20I runs and leading Pakistan to T20I series victories and also scored fastest 2000 runs in ODI as a Captain

Captaincy

• Virat Kohli: Kohli has led the Indian cricket team with distinction, achieving success in Test cricket and consistently maintaining a strong ODI and T20I side. His aggressive and passionate captaincy style is well-known.
• Babar Azam: Babar has captained the Pakistan team in ODIs and T20Is. He’s seen as a young and promising leader who has the potential to guide Pakistan cricket and leading the Pakistan team to the current ICC ODI No1 Ranking.

Check the ICC ODI Ranking for August 2023

Overall Impact

• Virat Kohli: Kohli’s impact on the Indian cricket team and his consistency across formats make him one of the greatest modern-day cricketers. He’s been a pivotal figure in India’s success.
• Babar Azam: Babar’s emergence as a top-class batsman has been a significant boost for Pakistan cricket. He’s seen as a player who can lead Pakistan’s batting for years to come.

FAQs

1. Who has scored more runs in ODIs, Virat Kohli, or Babar Azam?

• Virat Kohli has scored 12,898 runs in 275 innings, while Babar Azam has scored 8,064 runs in 195 innings. Therefore, Virat Kohli has scored more runs in ODIs.

2. Who has a higher batting average in ODIs, Virat Kohli, or Babar Azam?

• Virat Kohli has an ODI batting average of approximately 59.07, whereas Babar Azam’s average is around 54.17. Kohli maintains a slightly higher average in ODIs.

3. Who has more centuries in ODIs, Virat Kohli, or Babar Azam?

• Virat Kohli has scored 43 centuries in ODIs, while Babar Azam has 17 centuries to his name. Kohli leads in this category significantly.

4. How do their Test match statistics compare?

• In Test cricket, Virat Kohli has scored 8,195 runs in 106 innings, while Babar Azam has scored 3,696 runs in 47 innings. Kohli’s Test career has seen him amass more runs and play significantly more innings compared to Babar Azam.

5. What is their Test batting average?

• Virat Kohli’s Test batting average is approximately 52.04, whereas Babar Azam’s average stands at around 45.83.

6. Who has more Test centuries?

• Virat Kohli has scored 27 Test centuries, while Babar Azam has 6 Test centuries. Kohli leads in this category as well.

7. How do their T20I statistics compare?

• In T20Is, Virat Kohli has scored 3,296 runs in 90 innings, while Babar Azam has scored 2,987 runs in 74 innings. Kohli has a higher run tally in this format as well.

8. What is their T20I batting average?

• Virat Kohli’s T20I batting average is approximately 52.42, whereas Babar Azam’s average is around 50.76.

9. Who has scored more T20I centuries?

• Virat Kohli has scored 0 centuries in T20Is, while Babar Azam has also not scored a century in this format. Both are yet to achieve a T20I century.

In this statistical comparison, Virat Kohli emerges as the more prolific run-scorer and century-maker in all three formats of the game: ODIs, Tests, and T20Is. However, it’s important to remember that cricket is not just about statistics; it also depends on various other factors like match situations, consistency, and the ability to perform under pressure. Both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are exceptional cricketers in their own right, and their contributions to their respective teams are invaluable. Ultimately, the “best” player is subjective and open to interpretation based on individual preferences and opinions.