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In a rare glimpse into the camaraderie between two cricketing giants, Virat Kohli, the renowned Indian batter, recently shared his first interaction with Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam. Acknowledging the mutual respect they hold for each other’s prowess with the willow, Kohli lauded Babar as possibly the premier batter across all formats globally.
Kohli and Babar, distinguished for their extraordinary batting abilities, have consistently raised the bar in the cricketing arena. During a candid interview with Star Sports, Kohli reminisced about his initial meeting with Babar, which took place after a match during the 2019 ODI World Cup in Manchester.
“I vividly remember our first interaction. It was during the 2019 ODI World Cup after a game in Manchester. Imad [Wasim], whom I’ve known since the Under-19 World Cup, told me that Babar wanted to chat,” said Kohli.
Kohli terms Babar as the premier batter across all formats
Kohli emphasizes that right from the beginning of their interaction, he could sense the deep respect and admiration that Babar had for him. The former India skipper acknowledged Babar’s exceptional batting prowess by stating that he is possibly the best batter in the world across all formats.
“As we sat down, we discussed the game, and right from the start, I could sense the respect and admiration he held. This respect has remained unchanged. Babar’s position as possibly the world’s finest batsman across all formats is well-deserved. His consistent performances on the field have always been a delight for me to watch,” added Kohli.
Notably, Babar currently holds the top rank in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings, boasting an impressive 886 rating points. In contrast, Virat Kohli stands at the ninth position with 705 rating points. Babar’s cricketing journey spans across 104 T20Is, 100 ODIs, and 49 Test matches, where he has shone as a star performer. His remarkable tally of 12,346 runs, including 30 centuries, underscores his dominance in all three formats.
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On the other hand, Kohli’s illustrious career boasts 8,676 runs in 111 Test matches, featuring 29 centuries and an equal number of fifties. In the ODIs, he has amassed 12,898 runs with 46 centuries and 65 fifties, while his T20I record includes 4,008 runs, one century, and 37 half-centuries.
