Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate comparing star Indian batter Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s Babar Azam. Following a dismal run in Test cricket, Babar was omitted from the second Test against England by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
While Ashwin acknowledged Babar’s talent and potential to score runs, he firmly dismissed the idea of placing him alongside Kohli in terms of their cricketing achievements. “Babar will definitely score runs if given a chance; he is a quality player,” Ashwin stated. However, he added, “I feel we should end this debate once and for all. Just because he is across the border, do not write Babar Azam and Virat Kohli’s names in the same line.”
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Ashwin emphasized his respect for Babar but maintained that Kohli’s credentials in the sport are unparalleled. “Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done is unprecedented in world cricket,” he noted.
Finally ash na called out Kohli – Babar comparison. No one elevated Kohli and Rohit better than Ash na ! @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/vWdGTyeQK3
— Sriramk6 (@06ramK) October 15, 2024
Ashwin went on to highlight English batter Joe Root, who has been in remarkable form lately, as the closest comparison to Kohli. “At this point in time, the closest second is Joe Root,” he remarked.
Babar Azam has faced a challenging period in Test cricket, struggling to make significant contributions for over a year. In the first Test against England, he scored just 30 and 5 runs in two innings, contributing to Pakistan’s heavy defeat by an innings and 47 runs. Despite a strong innings total of 556 runs, thanks to centuries from Shan Masood, Salman Ali Agha, and Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan fell short as England posted a staggering 823 runs, including a triple-century from Harry Brook and a double-ton from Root.
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This performance led to Pakistan’s bowlers being skittled out for 220 runs in their second innings, sealing a decisive victory for the visitors. As a consequence of his poor form, Babar was dropped from the squad for the second Test and replaced by Kamran Ghulam, who made an impressive century on the first day of the match in Multan.
