Pakistan batsman Babar Azam wants to achieve the ‘legend’ status that Virat Kohli has acquired but conceded that he is still some time away from getting anywhere close to the Indian captain.
The 24-year-old, a self-confessed Kohli fan, spoke about his aspiration to emulate the world’s No.1 ODI and Test batsman.
“Look he (Kohli) has already achieved a lot. He is a legend in his country. Honestly, there is no comparison with me right now but eventually, I also want to get where he is today,” TOI quoted Azam as saying.
“The media and people have drawn comparisons between me and Virat Kohli but I realize that I still need to get more runs in red-ball cricket to be ranked among the top players. That is why in recent months I have been focusing a lot on getting consistent scores in Test matches,” he added.
Babar Azam in 2019 👇
🏏 Five Test matches, 2 x 💯 and a batting average of 57 🔥
🏏 20 ODIs, 3 x 💯 and a batting average of 60.66 👏
🏏 10 T20Is, 374 runs 🙌 and a batting average of 41.55What a year he has had! pic.twitter.com/kFIhmJA8kp
— ICC (@ICC) December 16, 2019
Babar, who scored his second Test hundred on Sunday against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, said he is more focused on correcting his mistakes.
“I don’t feel any pressure if anyone compares me with Kohli or (Steve) Smith. I am now more focused on my batting and I spend hours watching videos of my innings. I catch my mistakes and then I try to ensure I don’t commit them again the next time,” he said.
Babar, who made a battling 104 against Australia at The Gabba and 97 in the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, said that comparisons don’t distract him as he is now working on learning from his previous mistakes.
The prolific batsman also shared that he is setting goals for himself to achieve and is looking to score a triple ton as he strives towards consistency in the longest format of the game.
“I don’t feel any pressure if anyone compares me with Kohli or (Steve) Smith. I am now more focused on my batting and I spend hours watching videos of my innings. I catch my mistakes and then I try to ensure I don’t commit them again the next time,” he added.
“When I got out cheaply to a bad shot in the first innings at Brisbane, I was very cross with myself because I realized no top batman should get out like that. In the following innings, I made it a point to be patient and build my innings although playing strokes comes naturally to me.
“Someday I am looking at a triple century. You need to set yourself goals as all top players do. I have set myself the target of becoming consistent in Test cricket as well.”
