Time and again Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam has been compared with Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. While Kohli has been one of the finest batsmen across the formats for a few years now, Babar is impressing everyone with his development and consistency. As for India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, it’s unfair for Babar to be compared with his Indian counterpart. Ashwin, who himself has expressed his admiration for Azam time and again, asked for the comparisons between him and Kohli at this stage to stop as it could put the Pakistani under pressure.
“I really enjoy Babar Azam’s batting. I watched the century he scored in Australia,” he was quoted as saying by ARY Sports. “Comparisons with Virat Kohli will put pressure on him, which is unfair. Kohli is one of the finest cricketers the world has produced. I am sure Babar’s time will come too,” he explained.
Azam himself has also been asking to put these comparisons with Kohli aside as he still has a lot to do in his career to reach anywhere near to what the Indian has done. At present, Babar has played for Pakistan in 26 Tests, 74 ODIs and 38 T20Is. He occupies the No. 1 spot in ICC Rankings when it comes to the shortest format but holds No. 3 and No. 6 positions in ODIs and Tests respectively.
The Pakistani stalwart is currently in England as the skipper of their limited-overs sides. It is the first instance for Pakistan to be resuming international cricket, with the national team set to take on England in three Tests and as many T20Is.
Pakistan will kick-off international cricket in England next month, with the first Test scheduled to be played in Manchester starting August 05.
