"I know that such a [lean] time can come for any player" : Babar Azam on his support for Virat Kohli

[MenInG]

"I know that such a [lean] time can come for any player" : Babar Azam on his support for Virat Kohli

Babar Azam in a presser ahead of the 1st Test vs Sri Lanka

You have backed Virat Kohli in recent times so are you confident that he will be able to make a comeback?

"Definitely so, I know that such a [lean] time can come for any player, and I know what you go through during such periods and what it takes to come out of that, so at that time you need all the support you can get"

"I said that in order to support him at this time, he is one of the best players in the world, he has been playing a lot of cricket and he knows what to do to come out of this situation; These things take a little time so more we back him, the better it will be for him"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This too shall pass. Stay strong. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/ozr7BFFgXt">pic.twitter.com/ozr7BFFgXt</a></p>— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258/status/1547657073587933190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Zain]

Kohli seems far to good a player to just fizzle out completely like this, I expect him to regain some sort of form and be in the runs. I don’t think it can be burn out as he has been ample rest in recent times, maybe more of a thing where his enthusiasm for the game seems to have gone down a few notches I don’t see the intensity, zeal and needle when he is in the field that I’m used to seeing with Kohli.

 

[Rana]

Unnecessary from Babar

Tweets like this will not make Kohli feel better. Indian fans genuinely find it hard to accept Babar as an equal to Kohli and they will not appreciate a tweet that highlights the bad, lean patch of their premier batsman by a Pakistani batsman who has not achieved the same heights as him against the same quality of bowlers as Kohli.

Babar was doing well to just carrying on with his business in silence, tweets like this are done after retirement, not at the peak of your career.

 

[MenInG]

Unnecessary from Babar

Tweets like this will not make Kohli feel better. Indian fans genuinely find it hard to accept Babar as an equal to Kohli and they will not appreciate a tweet that highlights the bad, lean patch of their premier batsman by a Pakistani batsman who has not achieved the same heights as him against the same quality of bowlers as Kohli.

Babar was doing well to just carrying on with his business in silence, tweets like this are done after retirement, not at the peak of your career.

He is now being questioned on that tweet by journos.

 

[Varun]

Unnecessary from Babar

Tweets like this will not make Kohli feel better. Indian fans genuinely find it hard to accept Babar as an equal to Kohli and they will not appreciate a tweet that highlights the bad, lean patch of their premier batsman by a Pakistani batsman who has not achieved the same heights as him against the same quality of bowlers as Kohli.

Babar was doing well to just carrying on with his business in silence, tweets like this are done after retirement, not at the peak of your career.

I think this is a nice gesture by Babar.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It's a freakin' tweet lol. Don't get why people are doing detailed analyses of it. Our people have way too much time on their hands.

 

[Sher Khan]

Let's be honest, Babar himself has surely not written the tweet. That tweet is well written in English. His media manager has written the tweet. But Babar must have asked him to write a tweet for Kohli.

Nothing wrong with the tweet but probably not ideal considering the India-Pakistan context.

 

[pillionrider]

If Babar wanted to support Kohli, I think he should have just messaged him or something. Often, years after a player has retired, we hear stories of a peer who messaged them or even helped them. These things are best appreciated when they're out of the public glare.

Babar obviously doesn't mean any ill-will, but a tweet like this with that pic isn't the same as him calling Kohli a great who will bounce back during a press conference.

It's also not like they're best buddies or something. This is the photo you expect to see when someone dies. Kohli's decline could be terminal in some people's view, but the guy is still alive and running around for goodness sake

 

[Varun]

If Babar wanted to support Kohli, I think he should have just messaged him or something. Often, years after a player has retired, we hear stories of a peer who messaged them or even helped them. These things are best appreciated when they're out of the public glare.

But that's not the 2022 way.

"Hey look at me, I'm wishing him well. I'm so cool! So hit that like button." is the way kids roll these days.

 

[Ab Fan]

If Babar replied to the question that was asked to him then that is completely fine. But the tweet is an unnecessary and attention seeking propoganda, especially when it comes from a guy from different nation and an active 5 years younger cricketer.

"This too shall pass, stay strong" sounds more like a comment made for someone who you know well personally. As example, if Vinod Kambli makes this comment to Sachin Tendulkar, it is understandable. If a senior cricketer/coach who has played for years with Kohli would have made this comment like Dhoni/Yuvraj/Ravi Shastri, it would have been understandable.

But imagine someone younger saying this to you who perhaps don't know you very well personally and neither has worked with you( as coach or cricketer), it doesn't make much sense as far as mine is concerned.

 

[Bewal Express]

I thought Kohli would by now be out of the slump but this isnt a recession its become more like a depression for him. I still think there isnt anything fundamentally wrong with his game.

 

[Sher Khan]

The tweet is a bit weird coming from a cricketer much younger than you. I don't think the tweet will go down well in the neighbouring country.

 

[Snowflake]

The tweet would have been totally acceptable if we had ever received something similar from across the boarded. Indians, not just the BCCI but the country in general, have been extremely hostile towards Pakistan which means that these kind of gestures from our side seem out of place.

In normal circumstances, nothing wrong in showing support to a fellow player.

 

[Snowflake]

The tweet is a bit weird coming from a cricketer much younger than you. I don't think the tweet will go down well in the neighbouring country.

Surely not for that reason.

 

[Stewie]

If you have a problem with his tweet, the problem is with you.

This is called professional courtesy and it is not predicated upon seniority, skill, status, standing, nationality, etc.
Kohli has been awesome with Pakistani cricketers, always had nice warm and friendly gestures for them and it would be pretty poor if we did not reciprocate them. He is a wonderful human being and such qualities always get warm friendly gestures in return.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Even after those Asia Cup / CT final losses; VK was hanging around with Pak players.

Just 20 minutes before he was yelling and sprinting (a bit cringe) but once game was over he was cool and even took a selfie with Azhar Ali's son!

People are giving too much attention to a tweet. Let's say it was an attention seeking attempt by Babar / PR team; just ignore it and carry on.

And, me too as a fan, agree with Babar; I fully expect Kohli to come back with a big bang. I just hope it is not against Pakistan

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

If Babar wanted to support Kohli, I think he should have just messaged him or something. Often, years after a player has retired, we hear stories of a peer who messaged them or even helped them. These things are best appreciated when they're out of the public glare.

Babar obviously doesn't mean any ill-will, but a tweet like this with that pic isn't the same as him calling Kohli a great who will bounce back during a press conference.

It's also not like they're best buddies or something. This is the photo you expect to see when someone dies. Kohli's decline could be terminal in some people's view, but the guy is still alive and running around for goodness sake

Babar is a Pakistani so he can openly support Kohli.

Things would have been a lot different had Kohli written something like this for Babar. He would have been asked to move to Pakistan by andhbhakhts.

 

[Savak]

Would wish Pakistani players would stop sucking up to the Indian players like this even if the rest of the world does it for Indian money. You will not find Kohli doing this for a Pakistani player going through a lean patch over an extended period of time.

 

[Mamoon]

Babar can not even comprehend what was written in that tweet, he probably has never heard the word “shall” before.

It seems that the person who handles his Twitter account is a Kohli fan and now Babar is forced to answer awkward questions about his form.

 

[MenInG]

Shahid Afridi speaking on a TV channel:

"Cricket has always brought the two nations together. Babar conveyed a very positive message to the world"

"I think Virat Kohli should have responded to Babar as it would have been a big deal"

"I believe the things got worse after the Modi government came in. Before that, things were normal between the two countries"

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Shahid Afridi speaking on a TV channel:

"Cricket has always brought the two nations together. Babar conveyed a very positive message to the world"

"I think Virat Kohli should have responded to Babar as it would have been a big deal"

"I believe the things got worse after the Modi government came in. Before that, things were normal between the two countries"

Can't disagree with Afridi here.

 

[Rajdeep]

Would wish Pakistani players would stop sucking up to the Indian players like this even if the rest of the world does it for Indian money. You will not find Kohli doing this for a Pakistani player going through a lean patch over an extended period of time.

Yeah there seems to regular statements from Pakistani players about Kohli these days. Akhtar, Razzaq, Imam and now Babar...everyone is joining the bandwagon. Atleast ex cricketers are fine but not sure why current players would not focus on their own series. Lets be honest, Virat Kohli needs no sympathy. Assuming he wont ever gets his form back and tough times dont pass, no one can take those 70 centuries away from him and he would still retire as a great. India has enough batsman to replace Virat...so its not as if our cricket would suffer.

This is what I wrote in another thread -

As an Indian cricket fan, I am very humbled by Babar's tweet. But if I were a Pakistani or Babar Azam fan...I wont be happy with that tweet. Sports is all about competition and survival of the fittest. You don't show sympathy or compassion to your competetor unless it is something personal like racism or social issues. There was no need for Babar to show his soft side and lending support for him when both are active cricketers. I dont think likes of Root or Smith would do it...infact Kohli himself won't have done that. Babar should take this opportunity to ensure how he can break all Kohli's records and wish his form never comes back. It is nothing personal but that is what sports is...its all about competition. After retirement, ofcourse you can lend your support etc like AB Devilliers is doing but not when you an active player.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rajdeep]

Shahid Afridi speaking on a TV channel:

"Cricket has always brought the two nations together. Babar conveyed a very positive message to the world"

"I think Virat Kohli should have responded to Babar as it would have been a big deal"

"I believe the things got worse after the Modi government came in. Before that, things were normal between the two countries"

Yes Indians would not vote for Modi so that cricket relation with Pakistan improves

BTW, didn't Lala said during 2016 WT20 that he gets more love in India than in Pakistan. Whose govt was back then ?

The kind of speeches he made about India recently...even if cricket relation with Pakistan improves tomorrow, this person will never be welcomed in India.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Agree with majority of posters. Babar should know his tweet positions him like the bigger man. Another in his portfolio of self love posts. It should annoy Kohl no end who has achieved so much to be patted on the shoulder by Babar. If IK or Miandad do it, fine.

Here is what I like about it though. Babar is self confident, assured, maybe slightly arrogant. Nice for Pakistan which is full of either‘nice’ cricketers or those who can’t back up the big talk. Babar can.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Class act Babar &#55357;&#56399; <a href="https://t.co/GfaAGXwTIu">https://t.co/GfaAGXwTIu</a></p>— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1547837822891020291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rajdeep]

Asia cup 2018...after India beat Pakistan by 9 wickets -

Journalist - 'Rohit, what will you tell Pakistani batsmen...how to improve their game?'

Rohit Sharma - 'Agar future me mai Pakistan ka coach bana to bataunga, how can I say now'


World cup 2019 after Eng vs BD match -

Journalist - 'Eoin, how do you see BD players fare in future and what advice you give them'

Eoin Morgan - 'I don't, that is not my job. My role is to captain England side'

Just couple of examples from top of my mind when active cricketers refused to comment on their fellow competetors.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But you will be remembered for this.</p>— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan/status/1547868233881243648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Waleed93]

Our clueless fans have a habit of making simple things look like a mountain.

This was a nice gesture from Babar which was welcomed by ex-players such as Afridi, Vaughan and Irfan Pathan.

Most Indian fans also thanked him for the support on Twitter, Instagram, etc...

Moreover, Kohli himself has been very friendly with Pakistan players, unlike many of his team-mates, so Pakistan's best player lending his support is nothing but a positive gesture.

 

[bujhee kom]

They are both classy guys.

 

[dravidthewall]

Kohli is finished. He will not gain is form back ..he is already 34.Time to retire from all formats.India will keep on loosing matches if they persisted with kohli.

 

[Saj]

Imagine the uproar if an Indian player did this to a Pakistani player - he'd be disowned.

 

[NeVerMind]

Imagine the uproar if an Indian player did this to a Pakistani player - he'd be disowned.

To quote Omar Mukhtar, the Lion of the Desert, who treated the captured Italian soldiers with dignity and respect despite severe pressure from his own people to excecute the PoWs to reciprocate what the Italian Army had been doing (killing captured Libyan Freedom Fighters) -
"They are not our teachers"

Nice gesture from Babar... respect...

 

[UP]

Cheap stuff from Babar.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best &#55357;&#56399;</p>— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1548271087045070855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Waleed93]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best &#55357;&#56399;</p>— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1548271087045070855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kohli has always been friendly with most Pakistan cricketers.

I hope he doesn't get hate and abuses from the 10 years old Modi fans on Twitter.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Good gesture from Babar. Kohli maybe mentally strong, but this is far worse than 2014 slump which by his own admission completely wrecked him.

So such supporting words from some of the best in the biz surely helps even if it's just words.

 

[Major]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best ��</p>— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1548271087045070855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

And than there was a sachin tendulkar. Travelled all the way to watch the champions trophy, only to tweet about hockey.

Virat Kohli as an idol is above tendulkar. Even when his country is promoting anti pakistan rehtoric, he speaks up.

Great human being that often gets judged alot for his on field sledging tactics

 

[Mesozoic]

So much discussion on a trivial matter like this. )


There's like 90% possibility that both these tweets were made by their Social media managers with the two players having minimal knowledge about this.

 

[Saj]

So much discussion on a trivial matter like this. )


There's like 90% possibility that both these tweets were made by their Social media managers with the two players having minimal knowledge about this.

I'd be surprised if both tweets weren't done without prior discussions with the respective player.

 

[Saj]

To quote Omar Mukhtar, the Lion of the Desert, who treated the captured Italian soldiers with dignity and respect despite severe pressure from his own people to excecute the PoWs to reciprocate what the Italian Army had been doing (killing captured Libyan Freedom Fighters) -
"They are not our teachers"

Nice gesture from Babar... respect...

And now that Kohli has responded. I am sure that many of his 'fans' will be unhappy.

 

[Ab Fan]

Thank God, Kohli's manager replied to Babar's comment! It would have been blasphemous for Babar and Pakistani fans had he not as Babar is not really someone close to Kohli or knows him well enough to make statements like "This too shall pass". But he did which sounded a bit weird and sort of cheap stunt.

Kohli had Babar's nose in his court and he could have done anything or even not done anything but he responded with a pretty classy gesture which is indeed nice of him.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Kohli has always been friendly with most Pakistan cricketers.

I hope he doesn't get hate and abuses from the 10 years old Modi fans on Twitter.

He is getting it now lol.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Thank God, Kohli's manager replied to Babar's comment! It would have been blasphemous for Babar and Pakistani fans had he not as Babar is not really someone close to Kohli or knows him well enough to make statements like "This too shall pass". But he did which sounded a bit weird and sort of cheap stunt.

Kohli had Babar's nose in his court and he could have done anything or even not done anything but he responded with a pretty classy gesture which is indeed nice of him.

Babar is not close to Kohli but it seems you are, that is why you know that his manager replied to Babar's tweet on his own.

And I don't think a batsman who is number 4 in tests and number 1 in both ODIs & T20s will go for any cheap publicity stunt?

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

So much discussion on a trivial matter like this. )


There's like 90% possibility that both these tweets were made by their Social media managers with the two players having minimal knowledge about this.

Yeah they will post anything they like without discussing it with them.

 

[gazza619]

Unnecessary from Babar

Tweets like this will not make Kohli feel better. Indian fans genuinely find it hard to accept Babar as an equal to Kohli and they will not appreciate a tweet that highlights the bad, lean patch of their premier batsman by a Pakistani batsman who has not achieved the same heights as him against the same quality of bowlers as Kohli.

Babar was doing well to just carrying on with his business in silence, tweets like this are done after retirement, not at the peak of your career.

Oh plz, talk about over using the brain!!!

 

[Rajdeep]

He is getting it now lol.

Babar Azam is also getting hate from his countrymen. Check the 1st response on Babar Azam's post and that too from a verified account asking him to delete that tweet.

Lol

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

And than there was a sachin tendulkar. Travelled all the way to watch the champions trophy, only to tweet about hockey.

Virat Kohli as an idol is above tendulkar. Even when his country is promoting anti pakistan rehtoric, he speaks up.

Agree with this.

Kohli is in your face but actually has a big heart

Unlike you know who...

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

LOL @ people who were mocking Babar for making a compassionate comment towards Kohli.

Just goes to show that the toxicity that exists only exists between the fans of both countries.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Thank God, Kohli's manager replied to Babar's comment! It would have been blasphemous for Babar and Pakistani fans had he not as Babar is not really someone close to Kohli or knows him well enough to make statements like "This too shall pass". But he did which sounded a bit weird and sort of cheap stunt.

Kohli had Babar's nose in his court and he could have done anything or even not done anything but he responded with a pretty classy gesture which is indeed nice of him.

Yeah because its impossible that Babar is maybe a fan of Kohli?

And how do you know it is Kohli's manager who replied to Babar's comment and not Kohli himself? Also, where was Kohli's manager for the rest of the year, considering Kohli never replied to anyone else on Twitter all year.

Just a theory, but I think Kohli probably got a wind of people such as yourself mocking Babar and making toxic comments online and decided to shut y'all up.

 

[Firebat]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam regarding his support for Virat Kohli "I know that such a lean time can come for any player, and I know what you go through during such periods and what it takes to come out of that, so at that time you need all the support you can get" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1547927336065982464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam on his message for Virat Kohli "I said it to support him. He's one of the world's best players & has been playing a lot of cricket & knows what to do to come out of this. These things take a little time so the more we back him the better it will be for him" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1547929725611307009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Good gesture.

Twitter is part of the world now and telling everyone that you support him isn’t some awful thing.

Why does everything need vitriol and disgust.

For all we know he did DM him too.

Babar doesn’t need Twitter applause. He’s one of the most famous cricketers as it is. Just seems he’s publicly supporting a friend.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Yeah because its impossible that Babar is maybe a fan of Kohli?

And how do you know it is Kohli's manager who replied to Babar's comment and not Kohli himself? Also, where was Kohli's manager for the rest of the year, considering Kohli never replied to anyone else on Twitter all year.

Just a theory, but I think Kohli probably got a wind of people such as yourself mocking Babar and making toxic comments online and decided to shut y'all up.

Kohli had to reply this time though. Number 1 batsman in LOIs was showing support for him. Not even Indian ex cricketers, fans(including myself) are showing it these days for him so that was a nice gesture from Babar. It was all over the news so it is quite stupid to think that Kohli didn't reply himself. He needed this support.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam regarding his support for Virat Kohli "I know that such a lean time can come for any player, and I know what you go through during such periods and what it takes to come out of that, so at that time you need all the support you can get" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1547927336065982464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar Azam on his message for Virat Kohli "I said it to support him. He's one of the world's best players & has been playing a lot of cricket & knows what to do to come out of this. These things take a little time so the more we back him the better it will be for him" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1547929725611307009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There you go. He clearly mentioned that he is world's best player that is why he is supporting him to come out of this lean patch. I think Babar has surely triggered all those indian fans who hate Kohli these days. I also want him out of the team but won't abuse him or his wife like some of these fans do.

 

[Saj]

Tough situation for Kohli.

Ignore Babar's tweet and he gets stick. Respond to the man some are calling the new king and still get stick.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Why?!. Focus on getting a test century!

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Kohli had to reply this time though. Number 1 batsman in LOIs was showing support for him. Not even Indian ex cricketers, fans(including myself) are showing it these days for him so that was a nice gesture from Babar. It was all over the news so it is quite stupid to think that Kohli didn't reply himself. He needed this support.

I don't understand what people get by being needlessly cynical and trying to reach the most negative conclusion even out of something seemingly positive like this.

And its seems to be something that holds especially true for fans from India and Pakistan.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Tough situation for Kohli.

Ignore Babar's tweet and he gets stick. Respond to the man some are calling the new king and still get stick.

I doubt Kohli cares about the opinions of toxic fans. If anything, I feel like he may have replied just to prove a point to the keyboard warriors that were attacking Babar.

 

[pillionrider]

If Virat had his famed ego and pride left, I'm sure he'd have taken the Babar tweet not too well. At least in his mind.

If he still has a shred of that ego and pride left, his response can be interpreted interestingly - the use of the word rising , can be seen as calling Babar a junior player whom he's blessing to rise high.

 

[arif_2021]

Babar is not a junior player anymore by any standards.

In two major contests against India, both in CT and in WT20, he played a part in massive wins. Both of these were crucial matches.

WC2019, Pakistan would have chased down the target against india, but he got out to kuldeep at the wrong time. Kuldeep had an otherwise HORRIBLE Worldcup 2019 - it was very unlucky.

So ever since Babar has joined Pakistan team, its not like he is far behind Kohli. He is younger and has had less chances. Does not mean he cannot say what he said.

His 196 against australia is considered one of the greatest knocks of all time in test cricket.

 

[arif_2021]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1680758

regarding his 196 - wisden ranks it among one of the best ever innings. it was certainly the best innings by a pakistani batsman

he consumed 425 balls against a world class bowling attack and saved the game.

the mental strength, the temperature, the pressure as a captain...

these elevated him from an average batsman to legend status.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.
And trying to nitpick on the most minor of stuff. We have analysts, literature specialists, nobel prize winners, human relations expert, political science experts on PP.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar and Virat are continuing a long India-Pakistan cricketers' tradition of keeping sports away from politics. Rivals on field, well-wishers off it. Great player, great ambassadors. <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a></p>— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/1548574444716986368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rana]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Babar and Virat are continuing a long India-Pakistan cricketers' tradition of keeping sports away from politics. Rivals on field, well-wishers off it. Great player, great ambassadors. <a href="https://twitter.com/babarazam258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@babarazam258</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a></p>— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/1548574444716986368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Why is it always the Muslim Indian players that still provide support to Pakistani cricketers on social media?

 

[Browncaps]

I predict a Kohli century today.

 

[MenInG]

I predict a Kohli century today.

Dismissals in 2nd and 3rd ODIs

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 61.782%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/2dij3c" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[MenInG]

Babar on Virat:

"Nothing is easy in life. There are challenges everywhere. It is up to you how you achieve things in life and how you overcome the challenges you face. Virat is still one of the best batters world cricket"

"How you compete against a player like him, and that too in different conditions, is very important. Every cricketer, if you ask me, faces ups and downs in their career. It's not that there is only success and no failures. You really need a strong mindset to handle things in life that often do not go in your favour"

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has detailed why he sent a public social media message to Virat Kohli last year.

In a wide-ranging interview with ICC Digital Inside, Babar revealed there is a mutual empathy between professional athletes and he ultimately wanted his on-field rival to succeed.

Babar’s tweet, which he posted in July, came in the middle of an extended lean patch for Kohli.

Just a day before, Kohli had fallen for 16 runs in an ODI against England during a 100-run loss for his side.

At that stage, Kohli also hadn’t scored an international hundred since his 136 against Bangladesh in November 2019.

From his last century until that England ODI, Kohli had scored 806 ODI runs at an average of 36.68 and averaged just 27.25 in Test cricket during the same period.

When asked how he actually came about supporting Kohli, who plays for Pakistan’s cricketing adversary India, Babar said that as a sportsperson one must back other players in tough times.

“As a sportsperson, anyone can go through such a time,” Babar said, when asked to reflect on his mindset when he posted the now famous “This too shall pass” message.

“At that time I thought maybe if I tweet it might give someone help and confidence. See, as a player, you try to back every sportsman in a difficult time.

“It is in difficult times when you get to know what you are thinking about others. At that time, I thought I should have done that and maybe something positive will come out of it. Something which can be a plus point.”

The former India skipper acknowledged Babar’s support on Twitter and soon returned to the form that has helped him be recognized as one of the all-time greats.


Kohli scored 122* against Afghanistan in September 2022 and, since then, he has hit three ODI hundreds and smashed a memorable 82* at Melbourne to set up a classic win over Babar-led Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

ICC