NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are the two modern day greats, who showcase contrasting yet equally compelling batting styles. Kohli’s aggressive, consistent, and record-breaking performances have made him an icon in international cricket.
On the other hand, Pakistan skipper Babar’s elegant stroke play and remarkable skills have earned him the admiration of cricket fans.

While Kohli’s legacy is built on his astonishing consistency across formats, Babar is seen as the future hope for Pakistan’s cricketing fortunes. Their rivalry on the field and their contributions to their respective teams continue to be a captivating narrative in the world of cricket.

But former Australia legend Matthew Hayden opined that top-ranked ODI batter Babar is leading the shoot-out match against Kohli when it comes to statistical comparison.
“Babar Azam is a champion. He comes back from these things time and time again because that’s what champions do. When you think about the statistical comparison at the same stage, Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam, Babar Azam is actually leading that shoot-out match,” Hayden said during an interaction on the Star Sports show Game Plan.

Babar has accumulated an impressive total of 5380 runs at a remarkable average of 58.47 in 107 ODIs, while Kohli scored 4376 runs at an average of 49.16 during the same span of his ODI career.
“So that’s how significant he is to the Pakistani team lineup, and I am sure that he can do it in this shoot-out against Sri Lanka. Babar is central not only because he is the captain, but he is absolutely central in terms of the talent of that batting unit,” he further added.
The ex-Pakistan mentor also stressed the crucial role played by Babar in Pakistan’s batting order.
“We all understand that Pakistan cricket over the years and particularly this side is very top-heavy and Babar carries the weight of that always. So when his performances aren’t quite on song, it matters,” he said.