Indian spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has stated that Babar Azam should not be compared to Virat Kohli during the latest episode of his YouTube channel.
Ashwin’s remarks come at a time when Babar Azam is experiencing a dip in form, having been rested from the remaining home series against England. Despite this, Ashwin expressed confidence in Babar’s ability to bounce back, but he emphasized that comparing him to Kohli is not justified. He stated,
Definitely, if he[Babar Azam] 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.
While acknowledging Babar’s talent, Ashwin was unequivocal in his admiration for Kohli. “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 illustrious career indeed speaks volumes. The 35-year-old has amassed 27,041 runs in 535 international matches at an average of 53.23, including 80 centuries and 140 fifties, with a best score of 254. His leadership has been instrumental in India’s success on the global stage, securing victories in the ICC U19 World Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and ICC T20 World Cup, solidifying his status as one of the game’s greats.
In contrast, Babar Azam, who made his international debut in 2015, is at a pivotal point in his career. With 13,836 runs in 294 matches at an average of 47.54, he has made significant strides but is still not at Kohli’s level. His ODI stats are impressive—5,729 runs in 117 ODIs at an average of 56.72, with 19 centuries—but his recent form has been a cause for concern. Babar’s last 50-plus score in Test cricket came back in December 2022, and he has struggled recently, averaging just 20.70 in his last 17 Test innings.