Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are currently top-rated batsmen in all three formats with both being present in the ICC top 10 batsmen rankings in all three formats. Babar is even ranked first in the ODI rankings, with Kohli being number two. Virat Kohli has been 1st consecutively for 4 years in ODI before Babar Azam replacing him. In fact, Virat Kohli is the only batsman in the top five of all the three ICC batting rankings for all three formats.
Since his debut for Pakistan in 2015, Babar Azam has been in a form of his life and has managed to impress the cricketing world with his grit and character. The batsman is now counted in the same league as Indian skipper Virat Kohli, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, England Test skipper Joe Root and Australian cricketer Steve Smith.
Zaheer Abbas Names Virat Kohli And Babar Azam As The World’s Best Batsmen
Zaheer Abbas, the former Pakistan captain, has shown praise on India skipper Virat Kohli and current captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, calling them the two most premier modern-day batsmen in world cricket.
“Captain of the Indian team, Virat Kohli is up there. There is no doubt that he is one of the best batsmen in the world. Then there’s our hero, Babar Azam and may god give him a long career and get more good performances out of him. He’s really god. You’ve asked me a tough question but I believe these are the only two batsmen in the world whose styles are being copied,” Abbas said.
Abbas then praised the young batsmen for playing some of the shots like Virat Kohli, the way he plays in the IPL and then commended Babar Azam’s for his amazing contribution to Pakistan cricket.
“I have seen a few batsmen doing it. In the IPL, I watched a couple of games, and batsmen were playing the cut shot through slips and gully. So such shots have become common and so many batsmen are playing them,” the 73-year-old said.
“So, I feel we must set our own example. As long as we don’t do that, we can’t improve standards. Thanks to Babar. He is doing well. All Pakistanis are proud of him and hope he continues to dish out impressive performances and win more matches for the country,” the former Pakistan cricketer added.
Both the captains are yet to win a major ICC trophy under their captaincy and it’ll be great to see both the team playing against each other in the T20I World Cup later in October 2021.
