Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Who is the Better Player?

Few debates in cricket ignite as much passion as the comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. Much like the Messi vs Ronaldo discourse in football, Kohli vs Babar has become the defining rivalry of this cricketing era. Both are elite batters, national icons, and modern-day masters of limited-overs cricket. But how do they really stack up?

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Career Statistics at a Glance

Snapshot:

• Kohli dominates in volume, strike rate, and centuries.

• Babar rivals Kohli in average and early-career milestones, especially at home.

ODI Records Before Champions Trophy 2025

• Kohli: 13,960 runs @ 58.16, SR 93.54. Consistency machine with centuries every ~6th match.

• Babar: 5,967 runs @ 56.29, SR 88.06. Marginally ahead in frequency of fifty-plus scores but behind in acceleration.

Home ODIs:

• Babar averages 70.5, ahead of Kohli’s 60.8.

• More frequent fifty-plus scores per innings.

Away ODIs:

• Kohli’s consistency shines: 5,394 runs @ 54.48 vs Babar’s 2,491 @ 51.89.

• Kohli leads in both consistency and conversion.

Verdict: In ODIs, Kohli is ahead overall, but Babar dominates at home.

T20Is: Impact vs Elegance

• Kohli: 4,008 runs @ 52.7, SR 137.9, 1 century, 37 fifties. Known for big-match chases.

• Babar: 3,485 runs @ 41.5, SR 128.4, 3 centuries. Stylish but slower starter.

Verdict: Kohli’s impact in high-pressure chases is unmatched, while Babar brings elegance and consistency but at a slightly lower tempo.

Test Cricket

• Kohli: 8,676 runs, 29 centuries, avg 49.3. Defined India’s aggressive Test era.

• Babar: 3,772 runs, 9 centuries, avg 47.7. Still growing, technically elegant.

Verdict: Kohli holds the edge due to longevity and volume.

Captaincy

• Kohli:

  • 213 matches, ~63% win rate.

  • Most successful Indian Test captain (70% win rate).

  • Built India’s fast-bowling revolution.

  • Criticism: No ICC trophies.

• Babar:

  • 133 matches, ~64% win rate.

  • Took Pakistan to T20 WC semi-final (2021) & final (2022).

  • Criticism: Tactics, conservative approach. Stepped down in 2023.

Verdict: Kohli’s leadership legacy is more transformative.

Technique & Style

• Kohli: Bottom-hand dominant, compact, fierce against spin, master of chases. His cover drive is firm and authoritative.

• Babar: Top-hand elegance, smooth footwork, classic timer of the ball. His cover drive is graceful and poetic.

• Both: Stylish yet effective, but Kohli’s adaptability across conditions sets him apart.

Fitness & Popularity

• Kohli: Revolutionized Indian cricket’s fitness culture. Lightning between wickets, supreme fielder. Global superstar with 265M+ Instagram followers. Influence extends beyond cricket.

• Babar: Elegant batter, but fitness questioned at times. Popular in Pakistan, admired internationally, but not yet a global phenomenon like Kohli.

What the Experts Say

• Kamran Akmal (Ex-Pakistan keeper): “Bewakoof log (foolish people) compare Babar to Kohli. Virat is in a league of his own.”

• Mohammad Amir (Ex-Pakistan pacer): “Kohli is the greatest player of this generation. Comparisons with Babar, Root, or Smith make me laugh.”

• Analysts: While Babar is technically superb and statistically consistent, Kohli’s longevity, impact in chases, and record-breaking feats keep him ahead.

Records That Define Them

• Kohli:

  • Most ODI hundreds (50).

  • Fastest to 8k–13k ODI runs.

  • Most runs in T20Is.

  • ICC trophies still missing.

• Babar:

  • Fastest Asian to 3k ODI runs.

  • Only batter with 5 consecutive centuries in one country.

  • Longest reigning T20I No.1 batter.

  • Pakistan’s modern-day batting anchor.

Final Verdict

• Virat Kohli is already a legend — the benchmark for batting greatness, the greatest of his generation, and statistically the superior player across formats.

• Babar Azam is Pakistan’s finest modern batter — elegant, consistent, and technically brilliant. He mirrors Kohli’s early career trajectory but still has ground to cover in strike rate, leadership, and global dominance.

In 2025, the comparison feels premature. Kohli has written history. Babar is still writing his.