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Babar Azam or Hardik Pandya (in South Africa) - Which innings was better?

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Sachin136

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Hardik came in at #7 at 76/5 and scored 93 off 95 balls batting with the tail against Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Rabada, and Maharaj.

Which innings would you rate higher?
 
Well Morkel and Philander's presence tips the scales IMHO, but you're going to find a tough crowd here and its a bit of bad sport to point such things out when their best prospect has played a nice innings keeping the team alive in a tough away test.
 
What stood out in this innings is how Babar absolutely mauled Dale Steyn. I never thought I would say this about a Pakistani batsman, ever.
 
Babar azams innings is better, hardik was dropped once (from what i remember).
Babars innings was also more dominating.
 
Given the fact that Pakistan's batting cannot really match India's, Babar making Steyn turn red faced and having second thoughts of playing on beats Pandya
 
Hardik inning was on a tougher wicket against much better pace attack. But it was a slogfest, chanceful inning.

Babar inning was one of the classiest inning I have seen by any Pak batsmen in years, the way he smashed Steyn for almost 10 boundaries in three overs was phenomenal.

Gave me goosebumps of VK and ABD.
 
Babar's innings in SA is probably the best played by any player in South Africa - in a loong loong time.


Who's Pandya? Some random slogfest does not matter. Wasim Akram has scored a century at Lord's and SRT hasn't.

It's similar to that comparison, by some bitter parosis.


From 40/5 to 180, scoring 70 odd -- best in the last 5-10 years in SA, from such a difficult position.

Kohli fan but even he hasn't played such a knock in SA.
 
Hardik was dropped a few times I am pretty sure.

Was unable to watch Babar's innings so don't know how scratchy and or lucky it was.
 
Hawkeye said:
Babar's innings in SA is probably the best played by any player in South Africa - in a loong loong time.


Who's Pandya? Some random slogfest does not matter. Wasim Akram has scored a century at Lord's and SRT hasn't.

It's similar to that comparison, by some bitter parosis.


From 40/5 to 180, scoring 70 odd -- best in the last 5-10 years in SA, from such a difficult position.

Kohli fan but even he hasn't played such a knock in SA.
Click to expand...

Lol the ignorance in this post is so funny.
 
Pandya.

But Babar was more in control

Pandya was at times hacking it and you didn’t seem he was in total control of his batting
 
Pandya. This is not even close to the pitch they played on. Newlands vs Centurion. It was a better pace attack as well. Poor batting from both sides made it look harder than it is. This pitch is a sluggish pitch. Once you are in you get value for shots.
 
Babar's. Pandya did not have to face a rampaging Olivier, who single handedly dismantled Pakistan's batting lineup with his lethal bowling.
 
SA is known to produce good counter attacking knocks. Azharuddin/Tendulkar assault at capetown is the best from an overseas team. 222 runs partnership. Same way Sehwag's first test in SA was like that. Great counterattacking 119 batting at 7. Azhar mahmood's 128.
 
jnaveen1980 said:
Pandya. This is not even close to the pitch they played on. Newlands vs Centurion. It was a better pace attack as well. Poor batting from both sides made it look harder than it is. This pitch is a sluggish pitch. Once you are in you get value for shots.
Click to expand...

Sluggish?
 
Just because batting line ups are inept, 60-80 runs are not going to be the best knock in SA in the last 10 years. Pitch wasn't unplayable. We are simply seeing two poor batting line up in this series.

A very good knock, but there have been better knocks in SA in far tougher pitches.
 
Hawkeye said:
That was indeed a great innings.

Long time back though, so kind of proves my point, I guess? ~8 years ago.
Click to expand...

I can pull few more, I just used that as an example which was a far superior knock. This was a very good knock by Babar, but I don't think it was that good to be contender of the best knock in the last 10 years in SA. AB played few great counter attacking knocks in lots of sideways movement in his last series itself, but none of them will qualify for the best knocks in the last 10 years.
 
One only has to watch the two innings to know how much better Babar's knock was.
 
Coming back to this thread, Babar's knock was higher quality knock than Hardik. Anyone who saw both inning will come to the same conclusion. Yes, Hardik did play against better bowling with lot more sideways movement, but he was't really assured.
 
Buffet said:
I can pull few more, I just used that as an example which was a far superior knock. This was a very good knock by Babar, but I don't think it was that good to be contender of the best knock in the last 10 years in SA. AB played few great counter attacking knocks in lots of sideways movement in his last series itself, but none of them will qualify for the best knocks in the last 10 years.
Click to expand...

I said 5-10 years (agree, 10 years is a bit too long lol). AB doesn't count as he's obviously playing in home conditions.

Shafiq also scored a century on our last tour to SA. But I will not rate it as high as Babar's knock at all.

Different circumstances and tougher one this.
 
In context, Pandya.

In class, Babar by a country mile. This was peak Kohli and KW-level batting. Both these players would have stood up and watched this lad dismantle the ATG bowler of this generation.
 
Slog said:
Pandya.

But Babar was more in control

Pandya was at times hacking it and you didn’t seem he was in total control of his batting
Click to expand...

Then your answer should be Babar. Not sure why you think Pandya's knock was a higher quality knocks even though you admit his hacking.
 
Hawkeye said:
I said 5-10 years (agree, 10 years is a bit too long lol). AB doesn't count as he's obviously playing in home conditions.

Shafiq also scored a century on our last tour to SA. But I will not rate it as high as Babar's knock at all.

Different circumstances and tougher one this.
Click to expand...

Clarke had one more, 141 in 2014 Capetown .

And you will rate Babar's inning better than Stokes 250 he got in 2016??
 
Buffet said:
Just because batting line ups are inept, 60-80 runs are not going to be the best knock in SA in the last 10 years. Pitch wasn't unplayable. We are simply seeing two poor batting line up in this series.

A very good knock, but there have been better knocks in SA in far tougher pitches.
Click to expand...

Not a demonic pitch by any standard. Rightnow apart from England all teams have big holes in their batting line up. England manages to make up with their tail.
 
Buffet said:
Then your answer should be Babar. Not sure why you think Pandya's knock was a higher quality knocks even though you admit his hacking.
Click to expand...

The OP asks for the better innings, not the innings with the higher quality of batsmanship
 
Why compare 2 innings by players whose roles are different?

Pandya was playing a lot of Ariel shots. He was lucky to pull a lot of shots which could have easily gotten him out.

Babar played proper shots.

Also, Steyn is done. He is no where near the level he used to be. He was bashed by Indian batsmen too in the only Test he played against India.
 
troodon said:
Why compare 2 innings by players whose roles are different?

Pandya was playing a lot of Ariel shots. He was lucky to pull a lot of shots which could have easily gotten him out.

Babar played proper shots.

Also, Steyn is done. He is no where near the level he used to be. He was bashed by Indian batsmen too in the only Test he played against India.
Click to expand...
Hain jee? He bowled 18 overs for 50 odd runs, and picked up two wickets. Didn't bowl in the second innings. From my memory, bowled pretty well to Dhawan and then took him out, beating Dhawan for pace on the pull. I leave it for other posters here to decide if that was a bashing :genius
 
Hawkeye said:
Babar's innings in SA is probably the best played by any player in South Africa - in a loong loong time.


Who's Pandya? Some random slogfest does not matter. Wasim Akram has scored a century at Lord's and SRT hasn't.

It's similar to that comparison, by some bitter parosis.


From 40/5 to 180, scoring 70 odd -- best in the last 5-10 years in SA, from such a difficult position.

Kohli fan but even he hasn't played such a knock in SA.
Click to expand...

I love it when people are this much ignorant.
 
Pandya. He scored more runs. I'm not going to say Pandya faced better bowlers as [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] said because I think Steyn is still as good as ever.

However, I think Pandya's innings was superior owing to the pressure on the Indian team.
 
ExpressPacer said:
Pandya. He scored more runs. I'm not going to say Pandya faced better bowlers as [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] said because I think Steyn is still as good as ever.

However, I think Pandya's innings was superior owing to the pressure on the Indian team.
Click to expand...

Steyn is not the same bowler. He is done. Him getting injured opened the door for Ngidi who detroyed India with his pace and bounce.
 
troodon said:
Steyn is not the same bowler. He is done. Him getting injured opened the door for Ngidi who detroyed India with his pace and bounce.
Click to expand...

He was regularly bowling at 90 MPH from what I saw today. His fitness is excellent.
 
I've watched both innings. Babar was in control here and destroyed Steyn. Pandya had his moments but had a lot of luck riding in his favor. There is no comparison
 
Banter said:
Well Morkel and Philander's presence tips the scales IMHO, but you're going to find a tough crowd here and its a bit of bad sport to point such things out when their best prospect has played a nice innings keeping the team alive in a tough away test.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Azam's. The way he dealt with Dale Steyn was so satisfying to watch. Also, in Pandya's innings, he came in at a situation where he had nothing to lose and South Africa hadn't made that huge of a 1st innings score themselves. There was pressure for Babar Azam too but I felt the context demanded more as it was the first day of the series and they were at risk of being bundled out for a super low score and then Pakistan wouldn't even have anything to bowl at. But take nothing away from Pandya's innings as that was superb too.
 
Babar's & Pandya's innings are childs play compared to Mitchell Johnson's innings below where he destroyed Dale Steyn and Co, very Kapil Dev like RAMPAGE:


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oI2d4FzlHRg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Romali_rotti said:
Babar's & Pandya's innings are childs play compared to Mitchell Johnson's innings below where he destroyed Dale Steyn and Co, very Kapil Dev like RAMPAGE:


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oI2d4FzlHRg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Click to expand...

Woah! :stokes
 
One of the best Test innings by a Pakistani batsman in SA. Should give confidence to other batsmen and must own the No. 4 position now for sure.
 
Hardik faced a better attack but the truth is his was just a lucky slog. Babar seemed more in control of his strokes and hence a better innings.
 
Babar

daylight

Pandya


In terms of stroke-play, Babar's was the best innings i have seen by a Pakistani batsman ever. There were talks of reporting the pitch and Babar destroyed Steyn like he was playing with mohalla kids on a road. All proper shots!
 
Hawkeye said:
Babar's innings in SA is probably the best played by any player in South Africa - in a loong loong time.


Who's Pandya? Some random slogfest does not matter. Wasim Akram has scored a century at Lord's and SRT hasn't.

It's similar to that comparison, by some bitter parosis.


From 40/5 to 180, scoring 70 odd -- best in the last 5-10 years in SA, from such a difficult position.

Kohli fan but even he hasn't played such a knock in SA.
Click to expand...

Babar's inning was great by Pakistan standards, but doesn't warrant such hyperbole. As an inning, Pandaya's was way better given the nature of pitch and the bowling attack. It was a brutal display of batting like we rarely see in Test match Cricket.
 
If Pakistan wins, and I have my money on it, then Babar's inning without a doubt. If Pakistan loses, then really it doesn't demand a debate as it doesn't matter much.
 
SarfiBabarHaris said:
Babar

daylight

Pandya


In terms of stroke-play, Babar's was the best innings i have seen by a Pakistani batsman ever. There were talks of reporting the pitch and Babar destroyed Steyn like he was playing with mohalla kids on a road. All proper shots!
Click to expand...

So much hype about 'destroying' a well past it and finished Steyn. :)) :)))
 
BlackShadow said:
Babar's inning was great by Pakistan standards, but doesn't warrant such hyperbole. As an inning, Pandaya's was way better given the nature of pitch and the bowling attack. It was a brutal display of batting like we rarely see in Test match Cricket.
Click to expand...
Lol, Pandya was hacking around.

Babar's strokeplay would have made Kohli or KW stand up and watch.
 
Rahul1 said:
Pandya scored more against a better attack. Calm down.
Click to expand...

Better how?Olivier took 5 wickets here. Dont tell me Morkel would have bowled better than him and taken all 10 wickets.
 
Babar Azam. He dominated Steyn and played some lovely shots on merit. Plus this wicket on Day 1 was too bowling friendly
 
Madplayer said:
Better how?Olivier took 5 wickets here. Dont tell me Morkel would have bowled better than him and taken all 10 wickets.
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter if Olivier took 5 wickets, just like it wouldn't matter if a Steve Smith replacement scores a hundred against India.

This is a severely depleted South African attack, and bowlers Pandaya scored against were far better (not to mention tougher conditions).
 
Oligochaetes said:
One babar Azam thread already destroyed Rahul. Not it's Pandya who is gonna suffer :tahir2
Click to expand...

I think it's more of management destroying Rahul than the thread, also his off the field antics didn't helped him, but is he finished, it's too early to call.
 
ExpressPacer said:
Pandya. He scored more runs. I'm not going to say Pandya faced better bowlers as [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] said because I think Steyn is still as good as ever.

However, I think Pandya's innings was superior owing to the pressure on the Indian team.
Click to expand...

Steyn Morkel Philander Rabada Maharaj. The 5 bowlers that played for SA in that test.
 
definitely hardik, India would have been bowled for under 70 if not for that innings.
And also it was against all-fit rabada, morkel, philander, steyn.
Not to forget maharaj.
And add to it the fielding skills/sharp presence of abdv.
And without a practice match hardik did it - minus mark to kohli as always on the bad planning, but credit to hardik.

As for babar, it was a very good innings as well.
I would rate it on par with what rahane played in the lost match at perth.
 
Last edited:
cricketjoshila said:
Steyn Morkel Philander Rabada Maharaj. The 5 bowlers that played for SA in that test.
Click to expand...

Exactly. So, he faced primarily the same bowlers. Pandya's innings was better, wouldn't say much better, but better. Also considering he's an all-rounder, I think that was one of the best innings I've seen from a fast bowling all rounder, had he gotten a hundred, that would've been icing on the cake.

We shouldn't compare these two innings, rather Pandya's vs Mahmoods. I think the latter's was better considering the quality of how lling in pitches back in the day, and obviously 30 odd more runs.
 
ExpressPacer said:
Exactly. So, he faced primarily the same bowlers. Pandya's innings was better, wouldn't say much better, but better. Also considering he's an all-rounder, I think that was one of the best innings I've seen from a fast bowling all rounder, had he gotten a hundred, that would've been icing on the cake.

We shouldn't compare these two innings, rather Pandya's vs Mahmoods. I think the latter's was better considering the quality of how lling in pitches back in the day, and obviously 30 odd more runs.
Click to expand...

Philander and Morkel are not playing this test.
 
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