Babar Azam: Triple-Format Captain, ODI No. 1 & The Kohli Comparison

Babar Azam from Lahore became the most discussed batsman in Asian cricket during the early 2020s, reaching the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings and drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli for his ability to score in all conditions with technically correct, aesthetically pleasing stroke-play. He captained Pakistan across all three formats, reaching the ICC T20 World Cup final in 2021, and his statistics from 2019 to 2023 are among the most impressive compiled by any batsman in any era.

Reaching ODI Number One: The Ascent

Babar Azam first reached the ICC ODI batting rankings number one position in August 2021. He had been ranked in the top five since 2019 and his consistent run-scoring — particularly his ability to score at both strike-rate and average simultaneously — pushed him to the summit. By this point he had already accumulated over 3,000 ODI runs at an average above 57. His peak ODI average of 59.23 over the 2019-2023 period is comparable to Kohli's peak ODI average in the 2010s, which explains why the comparison became so dominant in cricket discourse.

The Kohli Comparison: What Is Valid and What Is Overstated

The comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is one of the most debated in modern cricket and divides opinion sharply. What is valid: both are right-handed batsmen with classical technique, exceptional timing through the off side, and the ability to convert starts into large innings. Both have dominated the ODI ranking simultaneously — a genuine statistical comparison. What is overstated: Kohli has scored more than 80 international centuries across all formats; at the same career stage Babar had scored around 35. Kohli's record in SENA conditions exceeds Babar's. Babar's record in Tests, while good, is not the sustained dominance Kohli showed from 2012 to 2020. The comparison is a productive one for cricket debate but should not obscure that both players have their own distinct achievements.

Triple-Format Captaincy and 2021 T20 World Cup

Babar was appointed Pakistan's white-ball captain in 2019 and took over the Test captaincy in 2020. At the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE, he led Pakistan to a stunning ten-wicket win over India in the group stage — Pakistan's first victory over India in a World Cup. Pakistan reached the semi-finals, where they were beaten by Australia. The win against India, a margin never previously achieved in a World Cup by either side, was one of the defining cricket moments of 2021. Babar made 68 off 52 balls in that match, sharing a century opening partnership with Mohammad Rizwan.

Batting Style and Technique

• Right-handed batsman known for straight drives, cover drives, and elegant off-side play
• Strong back-foot game allows him to play square on both sides on good-length deliveries
• High backlift and late downswing generate exceptional timing without relying on brute power
• Averages above 50 in ODIs and above 45 in Tests — rare combination of consistency across formats
• Particularly effective against pace bowling; considered more vulnerable to quality off-spin in Test cricket

2022-2023 Peak: ODI and T20 Form

The period from 2022 to 2023 represented Babar's statistical peak. He scored over 1,000 ODI runs in each of those calendar years at averages exceeding 55, only the third batsman in history to achieve that in consecutive years. In T20Is his strike rate improved markedly during this period — a criticism that had previously followed him — as he became more willing to play expansively from the first ball. His 2022 Asia Cup performances included back-to-back centuries and secured him the tournament's Player of the Series award. His captaincy of Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final, where they fell narrowly short against England, also highlighted his growing stature as a leader on the biggest stages.