Are we witnessing a Virat Kohli (2016-19) like peak from Babar Azam?

[Unbiased-Fan]

Virat Kohli is now termed as one of the greatest all format batsman of all times. Till 2015 , Kohli was already great all format batsman , but 2016 was the year where he succeeded in almost every match of each format and promoted himself to ATG status.
In the timespan of 1 Jan 2016 to 31 Dec 2019, Kohli scored more than 10000 runs, averaging more than 71 with 36 hundreds.
Such unbelievable numbers!!!
Kohli was star of 2016 T20 world cup which was start of his unbelievable purple patch which lasts till 2019.
Similarly, Azam is likely to be top scorer in 2021 T20 world cup..

Are we witnessing same peak from Babar Azam who has similar technique and is extremely consistent like Kohli in all formats?

Thoughts.....:

 

[KyoOne]

Don't think so.

Babar is more like Kane Williamson, an anchor with text-book technique, most consistent in his team.

Kohli is a dynamic player, who in a league of his own.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Don't think so.

Babar is more like Kane Williamson, an anchor with text-book technique, most consistent in his team.

Kohli is a dynamic player, who in a league of his own.

Babar is already better limited overs batsman than Williamson ; he is more dynamic and more than just anchor.
I'm sure Williamson can't score T20 hundred while chasing like Babar.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

This is more like 2012-14 Kohli. Babar will evolve to the next stage in a year or so, then THAT Babar will be equal to 2016-19 Kohli.

 

[Savak]

Babar needs to lead the team to loads of chasing wins single handedly to get there. He has only achieved 2-3 in his career so far.

 

[Savak]

Don't think so.

Babar is more like Kane Williamson, an anchor with text-book technique, most consistent in his team.

Kohli is a dynamic player, who in a league of his own.

Kohli was a dynamic player. That X factor has been missing in his batting for a long time. Can't remember him winning a match on his own with the bat for almost 2 years now. He has now become more of an anchor.

 

[street cricketer]

Kohli was a dynamic player. That X factor has been missing in his batting for a long time. Can't remember him winning a match on his own with the bat for almost 2 years now. He has now become more of an anchor.

Kohli's peak was something else. He's but a pale shadow of himself right now.

In footballing terms, Babar's peak is probably similar to Salah's peak, who in all honesty is probably the best player in the world right now. Messi is a shadow of himself and generally plays more of a midfield role nowadays, but Messi's peak was something else and cannot be compared to Salah's current peak, as good a player Mo Salah is.

 

[DRsohail]

No, if he goes even 70 percent of him I will be glad.

 

[mikeypbadana86]

I beg to disagree. Kohli in t20's has won crucial knock out matches in 2014 (t20 semi final vs SA) in chase. In 2016 t20 , won a crucial knock out/virtual quarter final against australia followed by a terrific knock in the final.

His 35 off 49 in 2011 world cup final, when he was just 23 great too considering the batting maturity to absorb preassure.

He is due one knock out innings in "ODI world cups".

I am following cricket since 96, when I was 10. Kohli is in the league of aravind disilva,inzamam in big match temperment.

I see rohit/sachin more in the leaguge of chokers in crucial matches.

 

[UzmanBeast]

There's Virat Kohli at the top of the list.

Then, hot on his tracks is Babar Azam.

Then after a while come the likes of Williamson, Root, Smith, etc.

That's what it is in white ball cricket.

Red-ball cricket:

Steve Smith
Virat Kohli
Joe Root
Kane Williamson
Babar Azam

 

[Mirpur express]

Babar is not a bottom handed player like virat , different players altogether.

 

[Buffet]

Are we witnessing same peak from Babar Azam who has similar technique and is extremely consistent like Kohli in all formats?

Thoughts.....:

Babar has one test ton so far when playing away. Need to take that to double digits to warrant a comparison.

 

[ElRaja]

babar hasnt shown any propensity to consistently play long innings in red ball cricket, until he does he will be one level below the fab 4.

in white ball cricket he has the potential to the best batsmen of his generation.

 

[StreetSmart]

No, we are seeing Babar Azam evolving as a captain. There should be no comparison among players. Babar is Babar and Virat is Virat

 

[Ab Fan]

Babar will have to do it in Test Cricket though to prove his worth. I would say, he is more like Joe Root but the difference is that England prioritises Tests more than LOIs while Babar, being a subcontinent player, prioritises or rather plays LOIs much more than Test Cricket. So, at the moment, his stats are great in LOIs but in Tests, they still have to improve.

 

[angrypathan]

Not until he starts playing match winning knocks in Test matches.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Kohli is in the league of aravind disilva,inzamam in big match temperment.

I have to disagree with you here. Kohli is already shadow of himself. Don't think now he can produce knocks like Arvainda and Inzi. Kohli chocked 2019 WC and 2017 CT final bigtime where stage was set for him.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

babar hasnt shown any propensity to consistently play long innings in red ball cricket, until he does he will be one level below the fab 4.

in white ball cricket he has the potential to the best batsmen of his generation.

Even Virat has to wait till 2016 for his first double hundred. Now he has 7.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

We are witnessing great rise from Babar is test cricket too.
After bad start to the format (averaging sub 30),from last two years he making consistent runs by averaging more than 60.

 

[Devadwal]

Lol , peak Kohli was winning game single handedly for India but same can't be said about babar .

 

[JaDed]

Kohli in back to back T20 WCs was a legend unfortunately lost both.

Babar is great but more of an anchor , I think Babar will edge Kohli out in ODI WC

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Virat at his peak played few memorable knocks T20 WC.

82* vs Australia in 2016 ICC T20 WC while chasing 161 target.
Both openers reduce India to 37 for 2 in 6 overs.
Needing 39 off 18 balls..Kohli did the job.


55* vs Pakistan in 2016 ICC T20 WC after 23 for 3.

78* vs Pakistan in 2012 ICC T20 WC

 

[Mean&Green]

Let babar be long time to come

 

[Sunzi]

Must admit his level of performance is brilliant and he's no longer just a heavy scorer of meaningless runs, especially in short formats.

So good to have a batsman of quality for Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan's Australian batting consultant Matthew Hayden has no doubt that Virat Kohli has so far achieved a lot more than the younger Babar Azam but the Pakistan skipper is second to none when it comes to "consistently reacting to the ball".

During an interaction with Pakistani journalists from Dubai, Hayden said comparisons between Babar and Kohli were expected because of their high batting calibre and since both were captains.


Hayden, who has worked with the Pakistan team in the T20 World Cup in UAE, however, felt that Babar was not overly flamboyant like Kohli.

"Babar and his personality is, as you see, what you get," Hayden said.

"He is very consistent. He is very stable. He is not overly flamboyant." "They are opposites the way I look at it. Babar is pretty calm most of the time and goes about his captaincy and batting meticulously while Kohli is very animated, very passionate, and very boisterous on the field," he added.

Hayden, one of Australia's best openers, said that Kohli had achieved a lot more as a world-class batsman and had also led the Indian team with distinction in all formats.

"Babar is still young as a captain but from what I have seen he is learning everyday and he is a quick learner." Hayden also talked about Babar's qualities as a batter.

"I think I see Babar has a lot of control when batting and he has a solid temperament. Just to give you an insight into that talent, his ability to consistently react to the ball is second to none from what I've seen." Hayden felt that Babar's ability to quickly pick up the line and the length of the ball is quicker than the average cricketer

"That is the mark of someone that is a very fine player," he added.

"I think his consistency stems from these attributes: the way he reacts quickly and how quickly he learns things.

"His reaction time and his ability to play a consistent version of his best self means he doesn't have to have all the innovations, he doesn't have to be striking with any increase or decrease in his temperament. He can remain neutral," he said.

Hayden also felt that Babar has the ability to up his strike rate in the middle overs through natural and conventional cricket shots.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...20-world-cup-2021-cricket/article37442646.ece

 

[Rajdeep]

Babar scored runs in this world cup but Virat's impact in 2016 version was better. He single handedly won his team the quarter finals against Australia from impossible situation. He was not only scoring runs but meaningful runs. Babar being outclassed here by Rizwan and to a certain extent by Fakhar Zaman.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Lolwut.
Virat won two man of the tournament awards consecutively at his peak.
Babar needs to fix his power game ASAP
He is 27 now, in t20s Babar strikes at 130 (played all games after 2016) and Kohli strikes at 140 even though he started his career way earlier.

In Odis too, Babar is yet to play an iconic innings, he is nowhere near peak Kohli, but definitely way better than the current version.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Babar scored runs in this world cup but Virat's impact in 2016 version was better. He single handedly won his team the quarter finals against Australia from impossible situation. He was not only scoring runs but meaningful runs. Babar being outclassed here by Rizwan and to a certain extent by Fakhar Zaman.

Actually he played three great innings in that world cup.
1.Vs Pak
2.Vs Aus
3.Vs Wi

And he did that at great strike rate too, Kohli at his peak wasn't just an accumulator, he was an accumulator and a finisher rolled into one and that is true for both t20s and odis.

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

Lolwut.
Virat won two man of the tournament awards consecutively at his peak.
Babar needs to fix his power game ASAP
He is 27 now, in t20s Babar strikes at 130 (played all games after 2016) and Kohli strikes at 140 even though he started his career way earlier.

In Odis too, Babar is yet to play an iconic innings, he is nowhere near peak Kohli, but definitely way better than the current version.

Ummm he played a gun innings against NZ in a must win WC19

In T20 he opens so it’s not the same comparison. I think his role and impact is way more than Kohli’s in this format.

Pound for pound Babar is the best pure white ball batter in the world today. It’s just that Kohli n others have a brand built around them and poor Babar is from Pakistan.

 

[Devadwal]

Ummm he played a gun innings against NZ in a must win WC19

In T20 he opens so it’s not the same comparison. I think his role and impact is way more than Kohli’s in this format.

Pound for pound Babar is the best pure white ball batter in the world today. It’s just that Kohli n others have a brand built around them and poor Babar is from Pakistan.

I mean really? Bahar impact is more than Virat ? Lol

 

[shamaan]

Babar is not a bottom handed player like virat , different players altogether.

Rizwan is a bottom hand player thou.

 

[Cric1234]

We just witnessed a peak innings of 39 of 34 which cost Pakistan the match hoping for more peaks like this against better teams.

 

[UsmanhailsAfridi]

I mean really? Bahar impact is more than Virat ? Lol

For his role as opener yes. He sets the foundation for rest of the lineup. Kohli is surrounded by match winners, so hence his impact is less.

You are allowed to have your opinion. For me Babar is best most pure technical white ball batter in the world. The numbers don’t lie. Is he a match winner like Kohli was at his peak, not even close. Then again how many hundreds did Sachin score in losing causes. Inzi was a bigger match winner than Sachin but Sachin was the better batter no question.

 

[Ab Fan]

Babar is a poor man's Virat Kohli.

 

[Ab Fan]

For his role as opener yes. He sets the foundation for rest of the lineup. Kohli is surrounded by match winners, so hence his impact is less.

You are allowed to have your opinion. For me Babar is best most pure technical white ball batter in the world. The numbers don’t lie. Is he a match winner like Kohli was at his peak, not even close. Then again how many hundreds did Sachin score in losing causes. <B>Inzi was a bigger match winner than Sachin but Sachin was the better batter no question</B>.

Yes, who can forget the memorable match winning performance of Inzy in below World Cup matches :-

1992 World Cup vs India
2003 World Cup vs India
2011 World Cup vs India

In all three matches, Inzy was man of match in winning cause while not sure what Sachin was doing by the time we reached 2011.

 

[DRsohail]

Babar is accunlator at his best.

 

[DRsohail]

Accumulator

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

For his role as opener yes. He sets the foundation for rest of the lineup. Kohli is surrounded by match winners, so hence his impact is less.

You are allowed to have your opinion. For me Babar is best most pure technical white ball batter in the world. The numbers don’t lie. Is he a match winner like Kohli was at his peak, not even close. Then again how many hundreds did Sachin score in losing causes. Inzi was a bigger match winner than Sachin but Sachin was the better batter no question.

Inzi is better match winner than SRT is a big myth n this forum for some obvious reasons.

 

[Mobashir]

Lolwut.
Virat won two man of the tournament awards consecutively at his peak.
Babar needs to fix his power game ASAP
He is 27 now, in t20s Babar strikes at 130 (played all games after 2016) and Kohli strikes at 140 even though he started his career way earlier.

In Odis too, Babar is yet to play an iconic innings, he is nowhere near peak Kohli, but definitely way better than the current version.

The only reason for the SR being higher is that Kohli's home matches are on batting wickets in India where as Babar has played most of his home matches in UAE.
They have the same SR, (Babar's à little better) when you look at it outside of there home matches.

Even in world cups, Kohli's overall SR is under 130 and the only world cup in witch his SR was over 130 was the one played in India (146).

In ODI'S, Kohli can play iconic innings against Faulkner in licjey mouse matches.
He will never ever play a knock like Babar's hundred in the world cup against NZ.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

The only reason for the SR being higher is that Kohli's home matches are on batting wickets in India where as Babar has played most of his home matches in UAE.
They have the same SR, (Babar's à little better) when you look at it outside of there home matches.

Even in world cups, Kohli's overall SR is under 130 and the only world cup in witch his SR was over 130 was the one played in India (146).

In ODI'S, Kohli can play iconic innings against Faulkner in licjey mouse matches.
He will never ever play a knock like Babar's hundred in the world cup against NZ.

Hogwash. No one gives a hoot about home /away stats in t20s, it's not test cricket.

Also you are again lying, Babar's away strike rate is 126 for Kohli it's 129, so even their Kohli trumps him.

Secondly Kohli started his t20i career in 2010, while Babar started in 2016, a 6 year gap in which t20i scores and batting changed drastically, why are you not factoring that in. Lol.

Finally, come back here when Babar wins two man of the tournament awards in t20 WC, as of now he played a match losing 39(34) in comparison to Kohli's (72(44),77(58) and 89(47)) masterclass in t20 Knockouts.
There is basically no comparison between them, zilch, nada.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Babar is a poor man's Virat Kohli.

As a fan of Babar Azam, I agree. People have forgotten how destructive Kohli was in LOI from 2012-2019. He used to score boundaries for fun regardless of opponent/pitch/bowler.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Another Zero for Babar

 

[mastimasti]

As a fan of Babar Azam, I agree. People have forgotten how destructive Kohli was in LOI from 2012-2019. He used to score boundaries for fun regardless of opponent/pitch/bowler.

Erm no...his tournament performances have never been as good as an early 20s Babar scoring a match winning, must-win century in a world cup game against NZ or his remarkably consistent run in the world t20 just finished.

Smashing bored bowlers in nonsensical bilaterals...we must have played SL every other week in the early to mid 2010s, is not quite destructive in any important manner.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar is so average against spin, especially SLA. He is lucky India and Pakistan don’t play Test cricket. Jadeja would run circles around him.

He is a fine player but clearly a couple of notches below Kohli. In spite of his slump, Kohli is greater than any batsman Pakistan has ever produced, and Babar has a very long way to go before he can be considered as the greatest Pakistani batsman of all time.

 

[Ab Fan]

Only time will tell.

Virat scored a lot of big hundreds in 2016-17 which took his average from 44-45 to 53-54. Post 2019, it has gone down a bit to 50 now.

Kohli's hundred conversion issue was just unbelievable till 2018. The fact that in last 2-3 years he doesn't have a 100 but still has same number of tons and fifties tells us that you let him give starts and he would convert them into hundreds, obviously that changed after 2018.

 

[transparent opacity]

It is difficult to emulate Kohli's performances, but I hope Babar can somehow manage to get close.