The debate between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as to who is the better cricketer is a never-ending one. Virat Kohli, the world’s No. 1 ODI batsman for almost four years, has achieved a level of domination in the shorter format of the game that no other cricketer has ever achieved. On the other hand, Babar Azam managed to break this streak and topple Kohli from his No. 1 spot after more than 1,200 days.
Let us first talk about Virat Kohli. He has been in the fore-front of the international cricketing scene for over a decade now, leading the Indian cricket team for almost the whole of this period. He is widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the world and has racked up an impressive number of ODI centuries. Additionally, he has struck up a strong partnership with his long-term deputy, Rohit Sharma and the pair have been the foundation of numerous Indian triumphs.
Coming to Babar Azam, he recently attained the No. 1 spot in ODI batting rankings. Despite being relatively new to the international cricketing scene, he has already created a legacy of his own by becoming the first Pakistani batsman to cross the 1000-run mark in three consecutive calendar years. He has been consistent with his performances, having scored centuries against teams like India, West Indies and New Zealand. He has been the go-to man for Pakistan in big occasions and is being hailed as the current best batsman in the world by many in the cricketing community.
Overall, both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam have been exceptional with their performances and have done wonders to their respective teams. While Kohli dominated the world like no other during his No. 1 reign, it was Babar Azam’s brilliance that ultimately overthrew him. Choosing one over the other would be a difficult decision as both these batsmen possess attributes that make them special. In the end, whatever may be the outcome, let us be sure to enjoy the challenge of witnessing two great batsmen pitted against each other.