The atmosphere got serious when Babar Azam was asked about his inability to finish the game for his side. This all happened after a hard-fought game was played in the Pakistan Super League in which the team chased 146 runs in a final over game. Babar Azam himself led the charge and made 43 runs in just 37 balls. But then, when one journalist pointed out Kohli’s ability to see out tough games, Babar quickly snapped back, saying that it was a misconception to compare him to Virat Kohli.
When Babar Azam was asked a question about why he was unable to finish matches unlike Virat Kohli, this is how he responded, “Finish these things. Keep these things to yourself. End the comparison and move on. It’s your misconception that I have not finished matches.”
The moment indicated that people were starting to question Babar’s ability to finish off games. He had scored close to one-third of the runs required and batted through the majority of the innings but wasn’t able to stick it out until the end. Regardless of the victory, everyone soon started paying attention not to the game’s outcome but to his finishing capabilities.
International career stats of Virat Kohli and Babar Azam
The comparison of Babar and Kohli may lead to a misrepresentation of both players’ career paths. Kohli is known for his exceptional finishing skills and reliability as one of the best players for a chase. The player’s records in high-pressure games, such as T20s and ODIs, support his claim. However, Babar has frequently served as an anchoring force in innings and not as a finishing batsman.
| Format | Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries | Strike Rate |
| Test | Virat Kohli | 123 | 9,230 | 46.85 | 30 | 55.58 |
| Test | Babar Azam | 61 | 4,366 | 42.39 | 9 | 54.46 |
| ODI | Virat Kohli | 311 | 14,797 | 58.72 | 54 | 93.82 |
| ODI | Babar Azam | 140 | 6,501 | 53.73 | 20 | 87.17 |
| T20I | Virat Kohli | 125 | 4,188 | 48.70 | 1 | 137.04 |
| T20I | Babar Azam | 145 | 4,596 | 38.95 | 3 | 128.02 |
Additionally, recent statistics may explain the disparity in perception. While Babar has collected 82 runs in two games of the PSL in the current season with a strike rate of 126.15 and limited boundary shots, Kohli’s skills lie in transforming a decent start into a game-winning score. The difference lies not just in output, but in batting approach and match situations handled.
Ultimately, although Babar is an important part of Peshawar Zalmi, the controversy regarding his finishing might go on. However, there was one thing that was certain from Babar’s reply: he wanted to be judged by himself, not by someone else’s legacy.
