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 8,500+ 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 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CRICKET TODAYView All
Highs And Lows Of Mahendra Singh Dhoni As Captain In The Indian Premier League
Cricket Today

Highs And Lows Of Mahendra Singh Dhoni As Captain In The Indian Premier League

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has stepped down as Chennai Super Kings captain, with Ruturaj Gaikwad replacing the legend ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024 season that starts from Friday onwards. For the second time, Dhoni is now, 42 years old...

time-read
5 mins  |
March 23, 2024
Decoding Batters With Most Runs In T20s As Virat Kohli Enters Exclusive List
Cricket Today

Decoding Batters With Most Runs In T20s As Virat Kohli Enters Exclusive List

Virat Kohli became the first Indian batter to smash 12000 runs in T20 cricket. He attained the milestone in match number one of the Indian Premier League 2024 season against the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Kohli scored a 20-ball 21 before...

time-read
4 mins  |
March 23, 2024
THE FOUR GRAND SLAMS, THE TWO TOURS AND SAUDI ARABIA ARE ALL HOPING TO REVAMP TENNIS
Cricket Today

THE FOUR GRAND SLAMS, THE TWO TOURS AND SAUDI ARABIA ARE ALL HOPING TO REVAMP TENNIS

On this, the leaders of tennis can agree: There is more money out there to be made. And they see eye-to-eye on this, too: The sport's current structure could stand to change...

time-read
4 mins  |
March 23, 2024
TEAM PENSKE STEPS UP FOR CAPTAIN WHEN ROGER PENSKE'S LEADERSHIP OF INDYCAR IS QUESTIONED
Cricket Today

TEAM PENSKE STEPS UP FOR CAPTAIN WHEN ROGER PENSKE'S LEADERSHIP OF INDYCAR IS QUESTIONED

There’s no better message to send to critics than an absolute domination, which was the exact Team Penske response after rival team owners took aim at Roger Penske’s series leadership. Penske silently fumed at the criticism which included a bold call...

time-read
4 mins  |
March 23, 2024
F1 NEEDS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE RED BULL DRAMA AS HORNER ACCUSER FILES FIA COMPLAINT
Cricket Today

F1 NEEDS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE RED BULL DRAMA AS HORNER ACCUSER FILES FIA COMPLAINT

If Christian Horner had his way, this messy saga over an allegation of misconduct made against him by an employee would be forgotten by now. He was cleared of wrongdoing by parent company Red Bull ahead of Formula 1's season-opening race last month...

time-read
3 mins  |
March 23, 2024
BRISBANE OLYMPICS ORGANIZERS SCRAP PLANS FOR THEIR 2032 CENTERPIECE
Cricket Today

BRISBANE OLYMPICS ORGANIZERS SCRAP PLANS FOR THEIR 2032 CENTERPIECE

Brisbane Olympics organizers have scrapped plans to demolish and rebuild an iconic cricket ground as the centerpiece of the 2032 Games while also rejecting a review panel's recommendation for a new stadium in city parklands.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 23, 2024
ISLAMABAD UNITED: THE CHAMPIONS OF PAKISTAN
Cricket Today

ISLAMABAD UNITED: THE CHAMPIONS OF PAKISTAN

Iskamabad United won the Pakistan Super League after beating Multan Sultans with a last-ball boundary in a thrilling final. Tailender Hunain Shah came in to face the final ball after the dismissal...

time-read
2 mins  |
March 23, 2024
TOUR POSTPONED OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
Cricket Today

TOUR POSTPONED OVER HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

Cricket Australia has postponed a three-match men's Twenty20 international series against Afghanistan scheduled for August due to concerns over deteriorating human rights for women and girls...

time-read
1 min  |
March 23, 2024
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024 SEASON: MAJOR RECORDS THAT CAN BE BROKEN
Cricket Today

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024 SEASON: MAJOR RECORDS THAT CAN BE BROKEN

The 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starts from March 22 onwards, with Chennai Super Kings facing Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chepauk. Since the IPL's inception in 2008, the cash-rich league has entered its 17th season...

time-read
5 mins  |
March 23, 2024
Indian Premier League: Sturdy Mumbai Indians Start A New Era Under Hardik Pandya's Leadership
Cricket Today

Indian Premier League: Sturdy Mumbai Indians Start A New Era Under Hardik Pandya's Leadership

Five-time Indian Premier League IPL) winners Mumbai Indians will start a new era under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, who returned to the side after spending two seasons at Gujarat Titans. MI went all out for Pandya in a trade deal, spending fortunes...

time-read
5 mins  |
March 18, 2024