[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Who Is Babar Azam?
Babar Azam, a renowned Pakistani cricketer and ex-captain of the national team across all formats, is widely acknowledged as one of the premier batsmen in the current landscape of international cricket.
| Full name | Mohammad Babar Azam |
| Born | 15 October 1994 (age 29), Lahore,Punjab, Pakistan |
| Nickname | Bobby |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm off break |
| Role | Batter |
Babar Azam’s Cricket Career:
Read more : Has Babar Azam Actually Purchased a Lamborghini?
- When Did Babar Azam Join Cricket?
Babar Azam has enjoyed a successful career, showcasing his talent for various teams within and outside Pakistan. His journey in professional cricket commenced at the early age of 13 during his school years.
- Domestic Career:
In 2010, Babar initiated his first-class career with Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited. His debut in this format occurred on December 10, 2010, facing National Bank Limited in the Qaid e Azam Trophy, where he scored 54 runs off 114 balls in a drawn match.
Furthermore, in his List A debut during the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup in Multan, he contributed a crucial half-century, proving instrumental in his team’s triumph. Transitioning to T20 cricket, he played his inaugural match for Lahore Eagles against Hyderabad Hawks in the Faysal Bank T20 Cup on December 1, 2012.
- International Career
Babar was chosen for the home series against the West Indies in 2016. In the initial ODI, he achieved his inaugural international century, making 120 off 131 balls and securing his first Man of the Match award. He followed up with another century in the second ODI, scoring 123 off 126 balls, contributing to Pakistan’s total exceeding 330. The third ODI saw him achieving a third consecutive century (117 from 106), setting a record for the most runs (360) in a three-match ODI series and becoming the sole batsman to score 350+ runs in such a series.
Read more : Babar Azam Resigns from Captaincy Across All Three Formats
- Test Debut:
His Test debut for Pakistan against the West Indies in Dubai on October 13, 2016, saw him scoring 69 runs in his first innings, becoming the first player to score a fifty on his Test debut through a day/night Test.
Records Of Babar Azam:
- International Centuries:
Babar Azam has amassed a total of 31 international centuries, distributed across different formats: 9 centuries in Test matches, 19 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 3 centuries in T20 cricket.
- International Half Centuries
He has Marked 88 international half centuries in all formats: 26 in Test matches, 32 in One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 30 in T20 cricket.
Babar Azam’s Salary as A Pakistani Top Cricketer: As he is positioned in the highest contract tier, stands the chance to receive a monthly retainer of up to PKR 4.5 million (approximately USD 15,900). This Salary is four times greater than what top players were offered in the previous year’s contract.
Babar Azam’s net worth: 5 million dollars
Babar Azam or Virat Kohli? Who is Better?
Read more : Babar Azam and Virat Kohlis Strikingly Similar Stats
The clash between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam is a significant player rivalry in cricket, gaining attention from experts and fans as the Pakistani player rises in world cricket. This rivalry is often paralleled with the intense India vs Pakistan clashes.
Both batsmen have set international cricket standards and play crucial roles in their respective team’s batting line-ups. Virat Kohli, being the senior of the two, debuted in 2008, seven years before Babar Azam entered the international scene.
The comparison of these batting superstars merits a more extensive and in-depth discussion rather than a brief overview
Comparing Records: ODI Performances
| Comparison | Virat Kohli | Babar Azam |
| Matches | 275 | 104 |
| Runs | 12898 | 5353 |
| Average | 57.32 | 59.48 |
| Centuries (100s) | 46 | 19 |
| 50s | 65 | 28 |
| Highest Score | 183 vs PAK (2012) | 158 vs ENG (2021) |
Comparing Records: T20 Performances
| Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Comparison | Virat Kohli | Babar Azam |
| Matches | 115 | 104 |
| Runs | 4008 | 3485 |
| Strike Rate | 137.97 | 128.41 |
| Centuries (100s) | 1 | 3 |
| 50s | 37 | 30 |
| Highest Score | 122* vs AFG (2022) | 122 vs SA (2021) |
Comparing Records: Test Performances
| Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Comparison | Virat Kohli | Babar Azam |
| Matches | 111 | 49 |
| Runs | 8676 | 3772 |
| Average | 49.30 | 47.75 |
| Centuries (100s) | 29 | 9 |
| 50s | 29 | 26 |
| Highest Score | 254* vs SA (2019) | 196 vs Aus (2022) |
Conclusion :
The comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, determining the superior player, sparks considerable debate in international cricket. While examining the statistics, it’s evident that Kohli holds a significant edge in terms of experience. However, the fact that Babar is younger should not be overlooked. As time progresses, the Pakistani batsman will face continuous challenges that will shape his stature across international formats, akin to Kohli’s.
Kohli has been a pivotal figure in the Indian team’s batting lineup for more than a decade, making him the current frontrunner between the two. Nonetheless, Babar, recognized as the top all-format player in contemporary cricket, is poised to make his mark in the years ahead.
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