The impending clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 on September 2 has not only sparked excitement among cricket enthusiasts but has also reignited the perennial debate surrounding two modern-day batting maestros – Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. Renowned Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar recently shared his thoughts on this long-standing comparison, offering a fresh perspective that has caught the attention of fans and experts alike.
It is worth mentioning that both Virat and Babar share an elegant batting style with an innate ability to score crucial runs under pressure, which has naturally led to comparisons between the two. While Virat boasts a more extensive international career with numerous significant milestones to his name, the Pakistan skipper has also managed to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing world in a relatively short span of time.
Sanjay Manjrekar gives his verdict on Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam debate
Speaking to Star Sports about the Virat and Babar comparison, Manjrekar started off by drawing an interesting parallel between legendary Sachin Tendulkar and Virat. He stated that players of such immense stature create a benchmark that inevitably becomes the yardstick against which emerging talents are measured. However, the 58-year-old further argued that such comparisons often fall short of capturing the true essence of a player’s individual journey and uniqueness.
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Addressing the Virat vs Babar debate in the later part of his interaction, Manjreker went on to appreciate the distinct qualities that Virat and Babar bring to the table, highlighting the fact that both possess their own set of skills and attributes that make them exceptional in their own right.
“Absolutely, and we can expect that to happen again. Just one thing that you know people like Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have had to deal with that they’ve had long careers and they sort of have spanned over 10 15 years and anytime there’s been a rising star, he’s been compared to a guy who’s been in the race for a long time. So sometimes it can be a little unfair but the greatness of these two guys is that they maintain that standard that the best performance of a rising player is equated with it,” said Manjrekar.
“Yes, both very good players. One obviously in his prime younger but coming to these kind of platform we want to say Virat Kohli and see with the format that we have here not the T20 format, Asia Cup this time round you might just see a bit Babar Azam and maybe show his place as well,” he added.
