Who is the better batsman – Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? This article provides a complete analysis of their Records, Runs, Statistics, Centuries, Ranking, & Net worth.
Cricket, a sport that has achieved massive popularity worldwide, has flashed countless debates among its followers on who the outstanding batsman in the match is. A regular topic in these discussions is the comparison of two outstanding players, Babar Azam, and Virat Kohli.
Among the top batsmen of their generation are considered to be Azam and Kohli. While Azam has established himself as one of the world’s top batters in recent years, Kohli has regularly performed admirably for India in all forms over the previous year.
The question that arises is, who is the superior batsman among the two, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? The answer to this query will be deduced by looking at and determining their records, runs, statistics, centuries, cover drives, ICC rankings, and net worth.
*Data as of 2023, April*
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Record
Captaincy Records
| Player | Format | Matches | Wins | Losses | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | ODI | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Virat Kohli | ODI | 95 | 65 | 27 | 0 |
| Babar Azam | Test | 18 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | Test | 68 | 40 | 17 | 0 |
| Babar Azam | T20I | 66 | 40 | 21 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | T20I | 50 | 30 | 16 | 2 |
Babar Azam’s Record
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 47 | 85 | 3,696 | 48.63 | 55.02 | 9 | 26 |
| ODIs | 95 | 93 | 4,813 | 59.41 | 89.03 | 17 | 24 |
| T20Is | 102 | 97 | 3.466 | 41.75 | 128.56 | 3 | 30 |
Early Career:
Babar Azam made his debut in 2015 for the Pakistan cricket team. In his debut series, he scored three consecutive fifties against Zimbabwe. He continued his excellent form and scored his first century against West Indies in the same year. Babar Azam has played 93 One Day International (ODI) matches and scored 4730 runs at an average of 59.87, including 17 centuries and 23 fifties.
Test Cricket:
In Test cricket, Babar Azam has played 47 matches and scored 3696 runs at an average of 48.63, including 9 centuries and 26 fifties. His highest Test score is an unbeaten 185, which he made against New Zealand in 2020. Babar Azam was appointed as the captain of the Pakistani cricket team in 2020 and has guided the team in 9 matches till now.
Virat Kohli’s Record
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 108 | 183 | 8,416 | 53.40 | 55.32 | 28 | 28 |
| ODIs | 274 | 265 | 12,898 | 57.32 | 93.62 | 46 | 65 |
| T20Is | 115 | 107 | 4,008 | 52.73 | 137.96 | 1 | 37 |
Early Career:
In 2008, Virat Kohli made his playing cricket debut for India. He made his first fifty against Sri Lanka in his first series. He continued his strong batting against Sri Lanka the following year and scored his first century. Virat Kohli has participated in 274 ODIs and scored 12,898 runs, including 46 centuries and 65 fifties, at an average of 57.32.
Test Cricket:
Virat Kohli has participated in 108 Test cricket matches and scored 8,416 runs at an average of 48.93, with 28 centuries and 28 fifties. His best score is his greatest Test score, a 254 not out against South Africa in 2019. Indian team playing cricket Virat Kohli was chosen in 2017 and has captained over 60 matches.
Comparison of Records
Kohli and Azam both have their strengths and weaknesses. Azam outperforms Kohli in ODI cricket whereas Kohli outperforms Azam in Test cricket in terms of average. In ODI cricket, they have both achieved around equal numbers of centuries and fifties, while in Test cricket, Virat Kohli has done it more frequently than Babar Azam.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Runs
| Factor | Virat Kohli | Babar Azam |
|---|---|---|
| Career Runs | 25,322 | 8,509 |
| Tests Run | 8,416 | 3,696 |
| Tests Average | 48.93 | 48.63 |
| ODIs Runs | 12,898 | 4,730 |
| ODIs Average | 57.32 | 59.87 |
| T20Is Runs | 4,008 | 3,465 |
| T20Is Average | 52.73 | 42.25 |
This table provides a clear comparison between the two players’ career runs, batting averages, and records in each format of the match. As we can see, Kohli has a much better overall record than Azam. Yet, B Azam is still young and has the potential to catch up with Kohli’s records in the future.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Statistics
Batting Statistics
| Player | Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | ODI | 93 | 4,730 | 59.87 | 158 |
| Virat Kohli | ODI | 274 | 12,898 | 57.32 | 183 |
| Babar Azam | Test | 47 | 3,696 | 48.63 | 196 |
| Virat Kohli | Test | 108 | 8,416 | 48.93 | 254 |
| Babar Azam | T20I | 101 | 3,465 | 42.25 | 122 |
| Virat Kohli | T20I | 115 | 4,008 | 52.73 | 122 |
here is a table format data comparing the Test, ODI, and T20I statistics of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli:
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Centuries
Virat Kohli has scored 75 international centuries across all formats, while Babar Azam has scored 29. Kohli made his international debut in 2008, while Babar Azam made him in 2015.
The fact that Babar Azam has participated in fewer matches than Virat Kohli is a more interesting element to be taken into view. Babar Azam has played 85 innings in Test cricket, while Kohli has played 183 innings. In ODIs, Babar Azam has played 93 innings, while Kohli has played 265 innings. This means that Babar Azam has a higher percentage of centuries per innings played than Kohli in both Test and ODI cricket.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Cover Drive
Babar Azam’s Cover Drive
Babar Azam cover drive is a thing of beauty, marked by its grace and precision. Babar’s cover drive is a classical stroke, played with a straight bat, and perfect balance. He bends into the shot, and the bat comes down at a graceful angle, meeting the ball with a sweet sound. Babar’s cover drive is not a power stroke, but rather a masterful display of timing and placement. He uses his flexible wrists to guide the ball through the covers, finding the gaps with comfort.
Virat Kohli’s Cover Drive
Virat Kohli’s cover drive is a signature stroke, feared by bowlers around the world. Kohli’s cover drive is a bit different from Babar’s. It is more aggressive and played with more power and intent. Kohli likes to get on top of the ball, driving it through the covers with a powerful follow-through. He uses his strong bottom hand to generate the necessary power, and his excellent footwork allows him to get into the perfect position. Kohli’s cover drive is not just about timing and placement; it is also about domination and aggression.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli ICC Ranking
Here is a table comparing the ICC rankings of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli as of my knowledge cutoff date of 2021-09:
| ICC Ranking | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Test Batting | 5th | 6th |
| ODI Batting | 2nd | 4th |
| T20I Batting | 1st | 7th |
B Azam is ranked higher than V Kohli in the T20I rankings, whereas Kohli has a better record in ODIs. Both players are equally ranked in Tests, indicating their equal skills in the longest format of the game. Kohli has scored more runs and centuries than Babar Azam in Tests and ODIs, while Babar Azam has an impressive batting average in both formats. However, it’s important to note that ICC rankings can change frequently based on performance, so these rankings may have shifted since my knowledge cutoff date.
Latest ICC Ranking 2023, April
| Ranking | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 5th | – |
| ODI | 1st | 6th |
| T20I | 3rd | – |
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli at the Age of 28
At 28, Babar Azam has scored 6286 runs in 166 innings with an average of 56.38, including 16 centuries and 32 fifties. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has scored 12,169 runs in 237 innings, averaging 59.07, with 43 centuries and 62 fifties. Although Kohli has more runs and centuries, he’s played more innings than Azam at the same age. Azam has a strike rate of 88.08, Kohli has 93.17, and Kohli has hit more fours and sixes. But Azam has a better average and conversion rate.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Net Worth
| Cricketer | Net Worth (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | $127 million |
| Babar Azam | $5 million |
Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are top cricketers known for their exceptional skills, consistency, and lucrative sponsorships. Babar’s net worth is $5 million, mainly from his PCB contract and T20 franchises. Kohli’s net worth is estimated at $127 million, with earnings from IPL, endorsement deals, and ownership stakes in businesses. While both are talented, Kohli’s wealth is significantly higher due to his successful brand partnerships and investments.
FAQs
Q1. Who has a better record at age 28, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli?
A: Virat Kohli has a better record at age 28, with a higher average and more centuries than Babar Azam.
Q2. Who is a better captain, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli?
A: Virat Kohli is a better captain because Virat Kohli has got more success and trophies than Babar Azam’s captain.
Q3.Who is the better batsman, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli?
A: Babar and Kohli are both great captains who have led their teams to big wins. Kohli has been a captain for longer and has led India to many achievements in different types of matches. Babar is a newer captain, but he has already shown he’s a good captain by helping Pakistan win some important matches.
Q4. Who has scored more centuries, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli?
A: V Kohli has scored more centuries than B Azam in all three formats of the tournament. Kohli has 28 Test centuries, 46 ODI centuries, and 1 T20I century. On the other hand, Babar Azam has 9 Test centuries, 17 ODI centuries, and 3 T20I centuries.
Q4.Who is younger, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli?
A: B Azam is younger than V Kohli. Babar was born on October 15, 1994, while Kohli was born on November 5, 1988.