Can Babar Azam Go Past Virat Kohli In The Coming Years?
Cricket Today|April 24, 2020
The kind of form, consistency, and determination he has showcased, it would not be a surprise if he goes past Kohli in the long run...
Abhishek Singh
Can Babar Azam Go Past Virat Kohli In The Coming Years?

“He has the potential to even beat Virat Kohli,” said Ramiz Raja about a certain Babar Azam, who has completely changed the face of Pakistani batting. Azam has achieved what nobody in Pakistan cricket did in the smallest amount of time that he has spent in International cricket. But can he topple Kohli or get past the records of the Indian captain in terms of batting?

Babar has the highest average in Pakistan cricket of all the batsmen that have made more than 3000 runs in ODIs. And he also has the highest number of hundreds in the same category. With 3359 runs in 74 matches at an incredible average of 54.17, Babar Azam has announced his arrival in the ODI cricket. In Tests though, he still needs to sharpen his skills, more so because he gets fewer opportunities to play Tests than the rest of the Fab-Four players, representing India, England, Australia and New Zealand.

Among the Fab-Four, which includes the likes of the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, Australia’s Steve Smith, and England’s Joe Root, it is Kohli who has personified batting and epitomized success. It, therefore, becomes natural that if an emerging talent like Babar Azam takes the world cricket by storm, he would be compared to the Indian ‘Run Machine’. The comparison becomes even more necessary because of the rivalry that the two neighboring countries share.

But the question remains, will he be able to do go past Kohli? And primarily there are three points which give Babar Azam a chance at achieving the feat.

BABAR’S HUNGER FOR RUNS

This story is from the April 24, 2020 edition of Cricket Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 24, 2020 edition of Cricket Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CRICKET TODAYView All
FORMULA 1 IN 2025: CLOSE RACING, LEWIS HAMILTON AT FERRARI, AND PLENTY OF NEW FACES
Cricket Today

FORMULA 1 IN 2025: CLOSE RACING, LEWIS HAMILTON AT FERRARI, AND PLENTY OF NEW FACES

Major rule changes in F1 tend to shake up the established order but can let one team gain a big advantage. When the same rules are in place for a while, teams tend to be more evenly matched. The season-long competition....

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
ARYNA SABALENKA WINS THE WTA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Cricket Today

ARYNA SABALENKA WINS THE WTA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sabalenka, a 26-year-old from Belarus, won the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, along with two other titles this season, going 56-14 with nearly $10 million in prize money. She overtook Iga Swiatek for the top...

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
MESSI AND RONALDO MISS OUT ON MEN'S FIFPRO WORLD XI
Cricket Today

MESSI AND RONALDO MISS OUT ON MEN'S FIFPRO WORLD XI

The all-time soccer greats did not make the men's World Team of the Year organized by the global Players' Union FIFPRO. The 37-year-old Messi, who plays for MLS side Inter Miami, and the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr...

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 3 WEAKNESSES OF PUNJAB KINGS
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 3 WEAKNESSES OF PUNJAB KINGS

The major attraction during the auction for PBKS was the capture of Shreyas Iyer. Punjab went all out for the IPL title-winning captain of 2024. A sum of Rs. 26.75 crore was spent on the Indian batter, who was with Kolkata Knight Riders. IPL’s highest wicket-taker and the best T20 performer with the ball among....

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 3 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU

Spin is RCB’s main weakness. They are heavily reliant on bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya. Notably, Pandya was dismal last season, averaging 42.50 and taking six wickets from 14 matches. The season before that, he picked nine scalps at 34.77...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Batting is RR's second major strength. In Samson and Jaiswal, RR get a strong combination to tear opposition sides apart. Samson is highly experienced, with over 7,200 runs in T20s. He has smashed six tons. Jaiswal is the present and future of both RR and Team India. Former KKR ace Nitish Rana...

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF DELHI CAPITALS
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 2 STRENGTHS AND 2 MAJOR WEAKNESSES OF DELHI CAPITALS

The pace attack of DC is a real deal. Starc is a big-match player, and we witnessed that last season when he helped the Kolkata Knight Riders in vQualifier 1 and then the final. He picked 14 wickets last season for KKR. In Natarajan, DC get a proven customer in the IPL...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 2 WEAKNESSES OF SUNRISERS HYDERABAD

SRH won their only IPL title in 2016 and is awaiting to add to the tally. Last season, they were second best against a well-drilled KKR side both in Qualifier 1 and then in the final. Many will feel that SRH could take a step further this time, given the balance. Also, they have a skipper in Cummins who is one of the best in the business...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: DECODING 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 1 WEAKNESS OF GUJARAT TITANS
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: DECODING 3 MAJOR STRENGTHS AND 1 WEAKNESS OF GUJARAT TITANS

In IPL 2025, we could see more of Washington Sundar, who perhaps didn't get the desired games in his former franchises. Sundar has a strong economy rate of 6.96 in T20s. Given his recent exploits with Team India, Sundar can be a good option in the ranks supporting Rashid. Domestic star Sai Kishore...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
IPL 2025: 3 WEAKNESSES AND 2 STRENGTHS OF LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
Cricket Today

IPL 2025: 3 WEAKNESSES AND 2 STRENGTHS OF LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS

LSG have a solid pace attack on offer with top Indian specialists. Mayank is such a pivotal figure in this side. Currently, the fastest Indian bowler, Mayank, impressed in the 4 games he played last season, taking 7 scalps at 12.14. A lot will revolve around him. In Mohsin, LSG get another solid customer...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024