A full stadium, an anxious chase, and two names that feature prominently in any short list – Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. From two different decades and two entirely different strokes, they produce identical results – runs under pressure. Kohli is known as one of the most consistent chase batsmen, while Babar emerged as the most dependable run-scorer for Pakistan. They both made a mark for themselves in T20 Internationals in their own way. Their numbers don’t just tell a story of volume, but of timing, control, and impact when it matters most.
Both Kohli and Babar were gifted players coming into T20Is, but soon surpassed expectations. Kohli became the batsman that finished off a game, while Babar became one of the most influential batters in terms of setting up a game for his team. It’s clear from the figures below that both batsmen excel at what they do.
Kohli’s T20I dominance: consistency under pressure
Kohli finishes his T20I career with 4188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69, and this is the first number which grabs attention. This speaks of his reliability. He played one century along with 38 fifties in numerous difficult chases. A strike-rate of 137.04 indicates that he was cautious but aggressive too.
However, his performance peaked in crucial moments. His unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup still defines Kohli’s game. His 76 in the 2024 final of the same tournament proved his status as a game changer in crucial games. During periods of poor form too, Kohli never failed to deliver under pressure situations.
Kohli’s career also saw some periods. In the period between 2016 and 2018, he excelled in all formats. And when we talk about T20Is, he was in command during all periods. Although he showed a slight decline in numbers over the years, Kohli maintained his match-winning abilities in all formats. Finally, he ended his international career by retiring from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup, finishing as one of the most dependable batters the format has seen.
Babar’s T20I engine: volume and control
Babar Azam provides another example of a unique format. In 145 games, he made 4596 runs at an average of 38.95 with a strike rate of 128.02. He made three centuries and 39 fifties. Though his average is much less compared to that of Kohli, his overall run score stands more than him.
The rise of Babar was fast as he became the quickest batsman to reach 2000 T20I runs within just 52 innings. Such a good start laid the foundation for him to build a career on a consistent basis. By 2018, he reached No.1 in ICC batting rankings. Thereafter, he even assumed a leadership position.
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One memorable tournament played by him was the T20 World Cup of 2021. Being the captain of Pakistan, he scored 303 runs, which was the highest in that year. He made four fifties that year while performing the job of captain. What is notable about him in T20 cricket is he is the first captain in T20Is to score three centuries, underlining his dual role as leader and run-scorer.
That said, recent times have seen a change. Post 2023, his performance level went down, and he received more attention. Even then, his performance levels in T20Is as a top-order batsman remain one of the best.
In terms of performances, whereas Kohli ranks higher in terms of average and match-winning abilities, Babar is the better performer when it comes to scoring runs and early achievements. While Kohli became an expert in run-chases, Babar became the master of run-aggregation.
