Babar Azam: Unravelling the Debate on the Best All-Format Batter in the World

Introduction

Cricket enthusiasts are constantly engaged in debates over who deserves the title of the best all-format batter in the world. Among the pinnacle contenders, Babar Azam, the young Pakistani prodigy, has emerged as the finest candidate. 

With his consistent performances and remarkable skills across all three formats of the game, Babar Azam has captured the attention of cricket fans and experts alike. 

In this short blog, we examine the factors that make Babar Azam a strong contender for the coveted title of the best all-format batter in the world.

His exceptional talent, consistent performances, and elegant strokeplay have elevated him to the upper echelons of the game. 

Babar Azam possesses a sturdy technique, fine timing, and an ability to play shots well. As he continues to mature and showcase his skills, Babar Azam’s rise as the best batsman in the world seems inevitable.

Babar Azam and His Contemporaries

Babar Azam and Virat Kohli may have distinct playing styles and backgrounds, some comparisons and similarities can be drawn between these two cricketing stalwarts.

  • Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are both known for their consistency and prolific run-scoring across all formats.
  • They possess exquisite techniques and class in their batting.
  • Both excel in chasing targets and have a remarkable ability to perform under pressure.
  • They have showcased leadership qualities as captains of their respective teams.
  • Both have consistently performed well in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is.
  • They hold numerous records and have achieved significant milestones in their careers.
  • Their similarities highlight their greatness as two of the finest batters in the world.

The Veterans’ Take 

The debate evaluating Virat Kohli and Babar Azam has won enormous attention, especially considering that Babar Azam attained the top spot in the T20 rankings the past year. 

Let’s take a look at what the cricketing legends have to say about these two exceptional players;

Shoaib Akhtar 

In September of last year, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan successfully chased down a total of over two hundred runs in a T20I in opposition to England. 

Following the game, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar in a roundabout way expressed his opinion, pointing out that Babar Azam is a superior chase master compared to Virat Kohli. 

Akhtar praised Babar’s capacity to copy Kohli’s renowned chasing competencies, emphasising that Babar’s incredible magnificence surpasses that of some other participants within the world.

Ian Bishop

Ian Bishop, the previous West Indies player, remarked on the premise of Babar Azam’s performance in the West Indies past year and expressed that he has passed Virat Kohli as the outstanding batsman inside the ODI layout.

Steve Waugh

Renowned former Australia captain, Steve Waugh, has expressed excessive admiration for India’s captain, Virat Kohli, commending him for his fantastic talent and method to the game. 

According to Waugh, Kohli embodies a modern-day-day hero who represents India’s new mindset of fearlessly confronting challenges with the perception that nothing is insurmountable.

The Final Verdict

Babar Azam and Virat Kohli proportion several similarities that illuminate their splendid batting prowess and impact on the game. 

Their consistency, method, potential to chase objectives, and management qualities have positioned them among the various elite batsmen in the world. 

While they have got their very own specific patterns and backgrounds, the comparisons drawn between them underscore their greatness and give a boost to their popularity as the finest batters in their generation.