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Babar Azam versus Lokesh Rahul

I believe Rahul has better temperament than Babar in Tests. Both of them are talented though.
 
Hitman said:
I believe Rahul has better temperament than Babar in Tests. Both of them are talented though.
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He probably has now. Not before. If KL Rahul fully realizes his potential he will be a beast in swinging and bouncing conditions as he has the game to handle swing and bounce. Early on he had issues against ball that decked back. Now he is matured to enough to play late. Babar will learn from mistakes and become better for sure. He has a solid technique.
 
A scintillating comeback to test cricket by helping his team win the test match at the home of cricket, Lords.

As of now, as it stands out:-

Tests :- Rahul > Babar( more memorable test knocks, same runs tally, more hundreds and opener)
ODIs :- Babar > Rahul
T20s:- Rahul > Babar

Rahul also keeps wicket in LOIs.
 
Ab Fan said:
A scintillating comeback to test cricket by helping his team win the test match at the home of cricket, Lords.

As of now, as it stands out:-

Tests :- Rahul > Babar( more memorable test knocks, same runs tally, more hundreds and opener)
ODIs :- Babar > Rahul
T20s:- Rahul > Babar

Rahul also keeps wicket in LOIs.
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I'd say they are more or less equal in T20 cricket if we judge by the respective needs of both teams.

You can't put a price on Babar's runs for Pakistan, the team is nothing without them.

Babar has improved his game quite considerably in the shortest format, but if we were to compare both by neglecting the value of their contributions to the team, then I think Rahul is a better T20 player.

Babar needs to dig in deep in test cricket like Rahul does. He keeps playing with a white-ball mindset in test cricket, which is not good.

I look forward to seeing both perform in exemplary fashion in the next few years.
 
Virat is without a doubt spiraling down in an irreversible decline. He'll play a knock here and there but the trend is secular.

So KLR arriving - finally - is literally a gift from the Gods above. Rohit has been no less of a revelation but nobody can be sure how much juice is left in him.
 
Don't think Babar would get a chance to play test if he was born in India. In LOI is a good batsman but nothing special. Babar is a walking wicket after the breaks mainly next day to start his innings. He keeps getting out same way again and again without even 20-30 runs added his overnight score. He has lack of hunger and timid personality.
 
Shafi said:
Don't think Babar would get a chance to play test if he was born in India. In LOI is a good batsman but nothing special. Babar is a walking wicket after the breaks mainly next day to start his innings. He keeps getting out same way again and again without even 20-30 runs added his overnight score. He has lack of hunger and timid personality.
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Yes because rahanne is world class .
 
UzmanBeast said:
I'd say they are more or less equal in T20 cricket if we judge by the respective needs of both teams.

You can't put a price on Babar's runs for Pakistan, the team is nothing without them.

Babar has improved his game quite considerably in the shortest format, but if we were to compare both by neglecting the value of their contributions to the team, then I think Rahul is a better T20 player.

Babar needs to dig in deep in test cricket like Rahul does. He keeps playing with a white-ball mindset in test cricket, which is not good.

I look forward to seeing both perform in exemplary fashion in the next few years.
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+1. These are two very good batsmen. I want to see them score a lot of runs. For Babar - not against India, but against all other teams. :-)
 
Babar is on his way up to be among the greatest modern era batsmen to have played the game.

Rahul is largely a has been who now has made a comeback to tests after a long time of under performance.

There is no comparison between the two in the format that matters, tests.

Pakistan would do well to entrust Rizwan with all captaincy that Babar can concentrate on his batting and achieve the heights he is destined to get.
 
Interesting take to call a 29 year old Rahul, a has been. He is what, 2 years older than Babar?

Granted, his test career so far has been underwhelming and yet his test stats are similar to Babar, the test match superstar.
 
AMSS said:
Interesting take to call a 29 year old Rahul, a has been. He is what, 2 years older than Babar?

Granted, his test career so far has been underwhelming and yet his test stats are similar to Babar, the test match superstar.
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KL has been given many chances and rightly have been relegated to 3rd or 4th choice top order batsman. Babar is the first name on Pak team sheet. Huge difference.

Babar averages 42 vs Rahul 36 in test cricket. Babar isn't quite a superstar yet in tests but it's just a matter of time before he makes that leap. He is now bound by captaincy burden of a mediocre team. The moment he is freed of it we will see him achieving new heights.
 
Sir Alex said:
KL has been given many chances and rightly have been relegated to 3rd or 4th choice top order batsman. Babar is the first name on Pak team sheet. Huge difference.

Babar averages 42 vs Rahul 36 in test cricket. Babar isn't quite a superstar yet in tests but it's just a matter of time before he makes that leap. He is now bound by captaincy burden of a mediocre team. The moment he is freed of it we will see him achieving new heights.
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Are you really going to point out *that* difference in their averages when they have both played nearly the same number of inning, and scored the same number of runs? I mean Babar's average reads 42 because he has been not out 6 times more. On the other hand, KL has made more meaningful centuries away in Sydney, Lord's...and Windies. KL has 5 centuries away to Babar's one - that too in a loss. So let's not pretend Babar stands above KL as a test bat.

Second, as you noted, KL didn't get a continuous run in Indian line-up despite his start being similar to Babar. It's harder for KL to make a place in Indian XI. Babar has been coasting along because he has no challenger. If KL were in pakistan, he'd probably be the first name on team sheet.

You are also wrong to note that KL is relegated to 3rd or 4th. He was earlier and now he's a permanent fixture. We'll see how their career pans out. My money is on Kl to play more tests, score more runs, and score more impactful runs.
 
AMSS said:
Are you really going to point out *that* difference in their averages when they have both played nearly the same number of inning, and scored the same number of runs? I mean Babar's average reads 42 because he has been not out 6 times more. On the other hand, KL has made more meaningful centuries away in Sydney, Lord's...and Windies. KL has 5 centuries away to Babar's one - that too in a loss. So let's not pretend Babar stands above KL as a test bat.

Second, as you noted, KL didn't get a continuous run in Indian line-up despite his start being similar to Babar. It's harder for KL to make a place in Indian XI. Babar has been coasting along because he has no challenger. If KL were in pakistan, he'd probably be the first name on team sheet.

You are also wrong to note that KL is relegated to 3rd or 4th. He was earlier and now he's a permanent fixture. We'll see how their career pans out. My money is on Kl to play more tests, score more runs, and score more impactful runs.
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1. Staying not out in tests is a negative now ? I disagree. Babar doesn't bat at 6 or 7 but in the top order. It is to his credit that he doesn't throw his wicket away unlike KL. If Babar had a better set of batsmen around him, I am sure he would have made many more runs than he has currently.

2. It is hard for KL to be a regular in Indian line up for the simple reason that he hasn't done well overall. His average si an excellent indicator. You don't find a lot of top sides with batsmen averaging 35 making the side regularly.

3. Centuries in losses is a stupid benchmark. A batsman can only bat, he cannot control how his team does. The 100 Babar made in Australia was classy. Of course I am not discounting the 100s by Rahul either. But KL doesn't have a key thing Babar has - consistency. Add to that Babar s mental discipline and value he puts on his own wicket. Babar is definitely a much more complete batsman than KL is.

This is such a vital series series KL. If he manages to be consistently good, then I agree he will be a regular. Till then he is still 3rd choice.
 
Sir Alex said:
1. Staying not out in tests is a negative now ? I disagree. Babar doesn't bat at 6 or 7 but in the top order. It is to his credit that he doesn't throw his wicket away unlike KL. If Babar had a better set of batsmen around him, I am sure he would have made many more runs than he has currently.

2. It is hard for KL to be a regular in Indian line up for the simple reason that he hasn't done well overall. His average si an excellent indicator. You don't find a lot of top sides with batsmen averaging 35 making the side regularly.

3. Centuries in losses is a stupid benchmark. A batsman can only bat, he cannot control how his team does. The 100 Babar made in Australia was classy. Of course I am not discounting the 100s by Rahul either. But KL doesn't have a key thing Babar has - consistency. Add to that Babar s mental discipline and value he puts on his own wicket. Babar is definitely a much more complete batsman than KL is.

This is such a vital series series KL. If he manages to be consistently good, then I agree he will be a regular. Till then he is still 3rd choice.
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This is such nonsense. Babar has done nothing in Tests so far to be considered as world class . He has no impact innings, neither stats. On the Contrary KL won us the home series against Aus, he does the most difficult job of opening on Tests and still has 5 away hundreds. Yeah his test career so far is average, but he's done a lot more than Babar so far .
Stop with this same stupid excuse of weak batting around Babar, Azhar is better than Pujara, Asad is better than Rahane, Rizwan is better than Pant, Babar is himself second coming of Bradman and better than Virat, but Pak batting is conveniently weak when it suits you.
 
Rahul's still gotta show a bit more consistency maybe for another 6 months or so, however if he maintains the same performance he has shown this tour and continues to carry on the way he has in limited overs than I'd probably say he was vastly superior.

Babar on the other hand needs to up his test game big time with massive improvements needed in the way he plays spin as well as fixing his temperament and ensuring he doesn't give away his wicket after the start of every day. In LO's he also needs to find a way to overcome the mental block he has had and start winning us matches with big game changing 100s.

All in all it's gonna be fun to see who comes out on top
 
Two technically solid batsmen, who can play aggressively, if needed. It'll be a treat watch them bat in the T20 WC.
 
I would want KL to focus tests first, then ODIs and lastly T20s. However, his record suggest it is the other way round.

Same is the case with Babar too.
 
I would place KL Rahul ahead of Babar in T20s as he is a far more explosive opener, but Babar is certainly ahead in ODIs and Tests.
 
Test: Babar but narrowly
Odis: Babar for sure
T20: I would take Rahul over Babar
 
jusarrived said:
This is such nonsense. Babar has done nothing in Tests so far to be considered as world class . He has no impact innings, neither stats. On the Contrary KL won us the home series against Aus, he does the most difficult job of opening on Tests and still has 5 away hundreds. Yeah his test career so far is average, but he's done a lot more than Babar so far .
Stop with this same stupid excuse of weak batting around Babar, Azhar is better than Pujara, Asad is better than Rahane, Rizwan is better than Pant, Babar is himself second coming of Bradman and better than Virat, but Pak batting is conveniently weak when it suits you.
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Agree with you on Babar not doing much in Tests, he needs to get that average up to 50 and play some defining innings. But Rahul has a shambolic test average of 35, it is like Abid Alis. He has played really impactful innings but he needs to show a little bit more. He is a 43-44 averaging opener at least
 
KL Rahul is a true 360 degree player. He can hit six to any part of the ground. More important than Rohit and in current form than Kohli as well.
 
Rahul is a good player but Babar is one of the greats so the comparison is unfair on the former. However, Pakistan can do with a player like Rahul in our team who can support Babar and strengthen our batting with real technique and power.
 
I had no idea I would be pitting the two most aesthetically pleasing players in the game currently when I started this thread.

Babar is just a treat to watch with his silken cover drives and on drives while the way Rahul hits sixes in the most elegant fashion possible is one of the best sights in the game. In terms of elegance, Babar = Iniesta, Rahul = Zidane.
 
Rahul got an unplayable ball. It would have cleaned up any batsman from any era. You just can’t play that unless you decide to play for the in-swing preemptively.
 
Mamoon said:
Rahul got an unplayable ball. It would have cleaned up any batsman from any era. You just can’t play that unless you decide to play for the in-swing preemptively.
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So unlucky!
Should have been given another chance!
 
Mobashir said:
Yes, India lost the wicket because of bad umpiring and cheating from Pakistan.
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BCCI and Indian Government should lodge a complaint to the ICC to take action. If they don’t, they should expect a boycott of funds
 
Mobashir said:
Yes, India lost the wicket because of bad umpiring and cheating from Pakistan.
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Even if it was bad umpiring, it doesn't fall in the cheating category. Pakistan were well deserved winner and the scoreboard reveals how good or bad were the performance of both teams yesterday.
 
Ab Fan said:
Even if it was bad umpiring, it doesn't fall in the cheating category. Pakistan were well deserved winner and the scoreboard reveals how good or bad were the performance of both teams yesterday.
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It was itony. Get real guys, it wasn't a no ball. The no ball was checked and he was well behind the line. The foot can then slide and go wherever it wants.
 
The audacity of comparing KL with Babar is mind boggling! One game yesterday confirmed the greatness of Babar “Bradman” Azam. Peace out!
 
It was an absolute peach that dismissed Rahul and not many could've survived that. I've seen Babar getting cleaned up by Shaheen in the same manner as well in PSL, that's not an indictment on Rahul or Babar's abilities. More so that Shaheen is an absolute jet and has an ATG ceiling in LOIs.
 
street cricketer said:
It was an absolute peach that dismissed Rahul and not many could've survived that. I've seen Babar getting cleaned up by Shaheen in the same manner as well in PSL, that's not an indictment on Rahul or Babar's abilities. More so that Shaheen is an absolute jet and has an ATG ceiling in LOIs.
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Babar has dominated Shaheen in PSL
 
Smudger said:
Babar has dominated Shaheen in PSL
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Yeah might have, but I've seen him getting bowled by a very similar delivery early in his innings.

My point is not that Shaheen cannot be dominated. He can be, it's just that sometimes great bowlers produce some deliveries that you simply can do nothing about it. Rahul got that one early in his innings. Amir did that in the CT final, but wasn't effective in the subsequent Asia cup in the UAE and India played him without much trouble in the world cup fixture in Manchester as well. But sometimes when a top bowler bowls an inspired spell, these things can happen.
 
shamaan said:
The delivery was unplayable that would get most people out
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It isn’t about most people. It’s about KL Rahul and how he failed miserably after bashing trash bowlers in the Mickey Mouse League.

Anyways, it is a pointless comparison. A lot of factors come into play when deciding who is a better player and this call cannot be made until both have hanged their gloves for good. Till then jury is out.
 
Vegitto1 said:
It isn’t about most people. It’s about KL Rahul and how he failed miserably after bashing trash bowlers in the Mickey Mouse League.

Anyways, it is a pointless comparison. A lot of factors come into play when deciding who is a better player and this call cannot be made until both have hanged their gloves for good. Till then jury is out.
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I agree you can't compare until they hang thier gloves up but a miracle must happen for KL.
 
This thread is alive again, especially after today's knock.

KL is making a strong case here. If he continues this form, then there's no doubt Babar will have to up his game
 
KL is better in tests and t20s.
Babar is better in ODIs.
Babar is just another stats paddler in t20s, he don't another gear like Rahul.
Babar should be compared with Iyer 😜
 
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Unbiased-Fan said:
KL is better in tests and t20s.
Babar is better in ODIs.
Babar is just another stats paddler in t20s, he don't another gear like Rahul.
Babar should be compared with Iyer ��
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Although you claim that you're an unbiased fan; however, your comments suggest otherwise.

As of now, KL is only better in T20s; in Tests, they are almost similar; in ODIs, it's Babar. But, I have to admit that KL is making a strong case of being a better Test bat.
Why only Iyer? why not Gill or Shaw or Ruturaj Gaikwad?
 
Babar is more prolific all format batter but KL Rahul is more versatile, can keep gloves and has wider range of shots and hitting ability than even Babar.
 
transparent opacity said:
Although you claim that you're an unbiased fan; however, your comments suggest otherwise.

As of now, KL is only better in T20s; in Tests, they are almost similar; in ODIs, it's Babar. But, I have to admit that KL is making a strong case of being a better Test bat.
Why only Iyer? why not Gill or Shaw or Ruturaj Gaikwad?
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Babar has done nothing in tests, the gap in tests is bigger than T20s. KL has played 70% of his matches in SENA and very little in SC, once he plays more at home he will get enough opportunities to inflate his stats but in tough conditions, he's already played some top class knocks .
 
jusarrived said:
Babar has done nothing in tests, the gap in tests is bigger than T20s. KL has played 70% of his matches in SENA and very little in SC, once he plays more at home he will get enough opportunities to inflate his stats but in tough conditions, he's already played some top class knocks .
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The same nothing has been done by KL in Tests, so what's your point?

Please have a look at their respective averages in SENA and then enlighten us how that 'gap is bigger in Tets'
 
Ab Fan said:
Babar is more prolific all format batter but KL Rahul is more versatile, can keep gloves and has wider range of shots and hitting ability than even Babar.
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transparent opacity said:
The same nothing has been done by KL in Tests, so what's your point?

Please have a look at their respective averages in SENA and then enlighten us how that 'gap is bigger in Tets'
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What do you mean nothing in Tests? Hundreds in every country hes played as an opener, first Indian opener with test hundreds in Eng,SA and Aus . Won us the home series against Aus on rank tuners, pretty much single handedly.
 
jusarrived said:
What do you mean nothing in Tests? Hundreds in every country hes played as an opener, first Indian opener with test hundreds in Eng,SA and Aus . Won us the home series against Aus on rank tuners, pretty much single handedly.
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If Austrlian pitches are rank turner's then what pitches are thier in india ?
 
- KL has scored a century in every country he's played in.

- Heck he scored a ton on his debut in Australia. While Root has struggled to score one in 3 tours.
 
The new Fab Four :-

Babar Azam - Age 27
KL Rahul - Age 29
Marnus Labuschagne - Age 27
Aiden Markram - Age 27
 
Babar > KL (odis)
Babar > KL (t20, especially after t20wc)
Kl >Babar (in tests, don't care about Babar 's inflated averages and soft runs in tests)
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
If this is the new fab four then I have to say that's a terrible drop in quality from the previous one.
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All four have potential to hit 20 test hundreds and maintain an average of 45 in Test Cricket. Two of them are openers.

Three of these four have great stats in T20Is already which means they are all format bats.
 
Away hundreds in SENA since Rahul's debut

KL Rahul > Babar + Fawad + Misbah + Rizwan

Virat alone has 9.
 
4 SENA test centuries vs 1 blows away all other comparisions. Rahul is a better batsman for sure. If Babar wants to be called the best of his generation, he needs to step it up in test cricket.
 
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dildilpak said:
4 SENA test centuries vs 1 blows away all other comparisions. Rahul is a better batsman for sure. If Babar wants to be called the best of his generation, he needs to step it up in test cricket.
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I don't think it's a fair comparison in test format right now. Babar has 1 away test tons so far. Maybe in future tours, he will start scoring tons. Given his skills, he should score plenty of away tons, but so far

Babar - 1 ton in Aus.
Rahul - 2 tons in Eng, 1 in Aus, 1 in SA, 1 in WI, and 1 in SL.

Middle-order 12-15 tons will go down as a brilliant career. If an opener scores 12-15 away test tons then it is simply gold for any team. Both of them have plenty of time to score runs and I am sure the best years are ahead of them.

The current test ton was simply a brilliant display by the opener in SA. He left the balls very well.
 
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KL Rahul had this weakness against incoming deliveries in 2017/18. In the first 34 dismissals of KL Rahul got bowled 12 times leg before 5 times. That is 50%. Quiet an unusual percentage. But he fixed that issue in recent times. In the last couple of years he got bowled just once. Some players get exposed after a while. And they go back and fix the issue. Some players get exposed right at the start. They take their time to fix the issue.
 
Babar's averages :

Tests : 45.98
ODIs : 56.93 SR : 89
T20s : 45 SR : 129.13

KL's averages :

Tests : 35.38
ODIs : 46.69 SR : 88.61
T20s : 40.69 SR : 142.49

At the moment Babar is ahead in two most important formats in cricket. :inti
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
Babar's averages :

Tests : 45.98
ODIs : 56.93 SR : 89
T20s : 45 SR : 129.13

KL's averages :

Tests : 35.38
ODIs : 46.69 SR : 88.61
T20s : 40.69 SR : 142.49

At the moment Babar is ahead in two most important formats in cricket. :inti
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And how is he not better in T20s? He is number 1 ranked in T20is and KL is ranked 10th
 
Bhaag Viru Bhaag said:
Babar's averages :

Tests : 45.98
ODIs : 56.93 SR : 89
T20s : 45 SR : 129.13

KL's averages :

Tests : 35.38
ODIs : 46.69 SR : 88.61
T20s : 40.69 SR : 142.49

At the moment Babar is ahead in two most important formats in cricket. :inti
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You didn’t update his ODI stats

57.72 @ 90.2
 
maqbool said:
Babar is fast approaching ODI ATG status :vk2 if he is not already there.
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He is already on his way to become Pakistan's greatest ever batsman in ODIs.

By the end of his career, he will surely overtake Inzamam, Miandad and Anwar's ODI legacies. He already has 15 ODI hundreds to his name, more than anyone not named Saeed Anwar, and has played 200 games less than those he has already overtaken.

His T20I numbers are mad. He just needs to get past that 130-133 mark in terms of strike rate, and get a WT20I medal to his name. He already dominated the last edition as the highest scorer. Not too far way from an ATG T20I batsman status either.

He still has some work to do in Tests, but he has improved there as well, as shown in the recent series. If Pakistan starts playing more Test matches, I expect him to go past or atleast come very close to that 10,000 runs milestone.

Overall not even a comparison with Rahul, who is a very talented batsman in his own right. Babar is in his own league though.
 
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