The comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam: India is going to face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia cup 2022 on 28th August and also in T20 World Cup on 23rd October. It’ll be a mouth-watering moment for all the cricket fans to watch them (Virat and Babar) both on the same ground against each other. In this article, we will compare Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam, using statistical analysis. It will be based on their entire career and also across all three formats – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Virat Kohli Vs Babar Azam Test career:
Virat Kohli has scored 8074 runs in his test match career at a batting average of 49.53 and at strike rate of 55.69. He also has as many as 27 tons and 28 half-centuries. Kohli has a superb conversion rate – with almost equal tons and half-centuries. In the last two years, he has been scoring good runs but is not able to convert those starts to centuries.
| Played in | Innings | Runs | 100s | Average |
| Australia | 25 | 1352 | 6 | 54.08 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 |
| England | 31 | 1033 | 2 | 33.32 |
| India | 71 | 3847 | 13 | 61.06 |
| New Zealand | 8 | 252 | 1 | 36.00 |
| South Africa | 14 | 719 | 2 | 51.36 |
| Sri Lanka | 10 | 394 | 2 | 43.78 |
| West Indies | 13 | 462 | 1 | 35.62 |
| Overall (8) | 173 | 8074 | 27 | 49.53 |
Babar Azam has scored 3122 runs in his test match career at a batting average of 47.30 and a strike rate of 53.56. He also has 7 tons and 23 half-centuries. This means that his batting average, strike rate and conversion rate are all lower than Virat Kohli.
| Played in | Innings | Runs | 100s | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 25 | 1352 | 6 | 54.08 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| England | 31 | 1033 | 2 | 33.32 |
| India | 71 | 3847 | 13 | 61.06 |
| New Zealand | 8 | 252 | 1 | 36 |
| South Africa | 14 | 719 | 2 | 51.36 |
| Sri Lanka | 10 | 394 | 2 | 43.78 |
| West Indies | 13 | 462 | 1 | 35.62 |
| Overall (8) | 173 | 8074 | 27 | 49.53 |
The last two years have not been excellent for the Former Indian skipper but are sweet sounding for the Pakistani skipper.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: The Techniques
It is so illogical to compare the techniques of two persons. Everyone has their own rituals and procedures when they bat. You cannot say which is right and which is wrong. If technicality was wrong they wouldn’t be at this stage by now. We can check on those.
We’ve seen Virat for a very long time now. Kohli is a very efficient player of spin bowling. His technique is excellent and he has the ability to nudge and nurdle singles, in order to rotate strike freely. This means that he does not allow pressure to be built on him by spinners.
Babar has a very ordinary batting stance, slightly pressing on his front foot. He depends more on the shuffle that comes in just before the bowler makes his jump. The shuffle in his batting comes in the form of a little jump. The shuffle brings him to the middle stump line, and sets his sword reachable with any line. His sweep makes him the lethal player of spin, and his quick shuffle gives him as much time to play pacers on merit.
ALSO READ: Virat Kohli vs Pakistan In T20I World Cups: How has Virat Kohli’s performance been against Pakistan?
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ODIs stats
Both Virat and Babar both have some of the most amazing stats.
| Stats | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
| Match | 90 | 262 |
| Runs | 4,516 | 12,334 |
| Avg | 59.42 | 57.68 |
| SR | 90.81 | 92.84 |
| Hundred | 17 | 43 |
| Fifty | 20 | 64 |
| Best | 158 | 183 |
We must say that Babar Azam is now in peak form and covering the distance from Kohli in a very rapid succession of time. They both have almost the same pace and both understand the nerves of the game very well.
In T20Is, Virat Kohli has been brilliant and averages over 50 across the format. This is very difficult, considering how rare consistency is in T20Is but he is still to find his 1st century in the shortest format. Like in ODIs, he is the master at chasing. Similarly, so is Babar, standing up with avg of 45, and a century over his name. The strike rate is a bit of an issue with him. Apart from tests and ODIs, where the stats and technicality are almost equilateral, in t20is Virat is a step ahead of Babar
No doubt they both are top-notch timers and strikers of the ball. These two are the real gem of modern-day cricket with vintage class.
We hope you enjoyed our Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam statistical analysis.
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