The Babar Azam versus Virat Kohli comparison

[Mobashir]

So in a discussion from another thread where a poster think that Virat is above Babar over the past few years.

So lets compare them over the past 2 years.

Tests :

Virat Kohli :
14 matches, 22 innings
average 43.85
hundreds/fifties : 2/5

Babar Azam :
10 matches, 17 innings
average 66.57
hundreds/fifties : 4/5


ODI's :
Virat Kohli :
innings 26
average 56.25
SR : 94.91
hundreds/fifties : 2/13

Babar Azam :
innings 19
average 71.12
SR : 96.14
hundreds/fifties : 5/6


T20's :
Virat Kohli :
innings 22
average 59.73
SR : 143
hundreds/fifties : 0/8

Babar Azam :
innings 16
average 39.14
SR : 136
hundreds/fifties : 0/7



So how is it even comparable? Over the past 2 years Babar is in a different league when compared to Virat Kohli and there is no shame to have for Kohli and indian fans.
Babar is in a terrefic form, the form of his life.

Test average difference of 23, ODI average difference of 16, 2 times more hundreds.
Everything is in Babar's favor.

There is really no other way to look at it apart if you are a hater.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

There's an argument for Babar as the best in the world right now due to how much of a load he has to carry with the tripe around him.

 

[Hasan123]

It's extremely hard to take OP serious when he has known hate for anything Indian. In any case I don't need a bunch of stats to tell me Kohli is better than Babar. Babar won't surpass him as well. But glad Pakistan have a top class batter like Babar. Hope he can improve against spin.

 

[Mobashir]

It's extremely hard to take OP serious when he has known hate for anything Indian. In any case I don't need a bunch of stats to tell me Kohli is better than Babar. Babar won't surpass him as well. But glad Pakistan have a top class batter like Babar. Hope he can improve against spin.

It's sad that you can read but you can't understand!

The thread is clearly not about Babar vs Virat overall, but just over the 2 years.
Do you think Kohli was better than Babar over the past 2 years?

If it's the case, it's your choice.

 

[Ab Fan]

Over last two years,

Test averages:-

Labuschagne 72
Babar 66
Rohit 64
Smith 63
Williamson 61

ODI averages( vs top 8 teams):-

Shakib 84 @91
Stokes 72 @ 100
Babar 66 @9
Rohit 64 @95
Kane 62 @76
Kohli 56@ 94
KL Rahul 55@94
Pandya 52 @119

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;filter=advanced;opposition=1;opposition=2;opposition=3;opposition=4;opposition=5;opposition=6;opposition=7;opposition=8;orderby=batting_average;qualmin1=500;qualval1=runs;spanmin1=02+Apr+2019;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[Ab Fan]

Link below:-

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

 

[BreadPakoda]

Hard to argue with those numbers.

Babar needs to make more impactful runs though. Kohli is Kohli because of the way he ruthlessly takes away games. Babar needs to do that more.

 

[BaankeJi]

Forms will keep changing guys. Nobody has a birthright on rankings. There is no shame in having a dip in performance- nobody is a robot.

 

[Mobashir]

Over last two years,

Test averages:-

Labuschagne 72
Babar 66
Rohit 64
Smith 63
Williamson 61

ODI averages( vs top 8 teams):-

Shakib 84 @91
Stokes 72 @ 100
Babar 66 @9
Rohit 64 @95
Kane 62 @76
Kohli 56@ 94
KL Rahul 55@94
Pandya 52 @119

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Thanks.
Hope the thread doesn't get deviated with other names coming in.

Who do you think was better over the past 2 years between Babar and Kohli?

 

[Ab Fan]

Thanks.
Hope the thread doesn't get deviated with other names coming in.

Who do you think was better over the past 2 years between Babar and Kohli?

If we are only considering the last two years, then Babar is obviously better. But stats may be different if we change that to last three years.

Anyways, Kohli pre 2016 was a batsman at another level. The last couple of years, he has become just an accumulator and nowadays mostly satisfied by half centuries.

 

[Mobashir]

Hard to argue with those numbers.

Babar needs to make more impactful runs though. Kohli is Kohli because of the way he ruthlessly takes away games. Babar needs to do that more.

Care to show witch game Kohli ruthlessly took away iver the past years in Test and ODI's?

Again, there is no shame in being out of form, Kohli's ODI numbers are still very very fine but he is quite a margin behind Babar. The problem with with posters like Hasan123 and Mamoon who hate and can't accept simple facts like these.

 

[Titan24]

Interesting numbers.

Kohli’s last two years were not upto his standards especially considering the fact that 27-33 are generally the peak years of batsmen. However, his peak was a legendary one and sustained for a long time as well upto an insane level. I dont think that most will argue that he is near to the other side of his peak than the start as he is 32 currently. Considering his class and modern day fitness standards I wont be surprised if he still has some gems in him as he showed by being the highest scorer for his team in T20 internationals vs Eng but there can possibly be more variations in the performances in comparison to the high benchmarks he has set for himself in next 3,4 years depending upon for how long he is planning to play at top level.

Babar is 26 and entering his peak years. Cricket back in Pakistan has been a big boost for a batsman of his class in terms of his overall confidence and improving his stats. If Babar can achieve anywhere near or even half of what Kohli achieved in his peak in terms of impact Pak would be a much stronger outfit in the coming years.

 

[shaz619]

Lets not criticise Kohli too much, he is like one or two trophy away from greatness and under this Indian team in home conditions, its quiet possible he will play a series of match winning innings which help his team win a World Cup or two

 

[BreadPakoda]

Care to show witch game Kohli ruthlessly took away iver the past years in Test and ODI's?

Again, there is no shame in being out of form, Kohli's ODI numbers are still very very fine but he is quite a margin behind Babar. The problem with with posters like Hasan123 and Mamoon who hate and can't accept simple facts like these.

I’m referring to Kohli’s career in general. Kohli’s slump should not be a benchmark for Babar. Babar is better than that.

I also feel Kohli’s role has evolved with time. He’s more focused on building a solid team and leaving India’s cricket in good hands. Not surprising that his relatively poor batting form has coincided with an increase in ownership as a leader. If I were a PCT supporter I would hope that Babar too assumes such responsibility some day.

 

[Bewal Express]

Kohli is a brilliant player and we are developing one of our own. I hope Babar takes his game to the next level but as k said on the other thread, the lack of games against good teams will always put him at a disadvantage

 

[Bigboii]

If we are only considering the last two years, then Babar is obviously better. But stats may be different if we change that to last three years.

Anyways, Kohli pre 2016 was a batsman at another level. The last couple of years, he has become just an accumulator and nowadays mostly satisfied by half centuries.

In 2016 it was EXPECTED that kolhi will take away the game if he is chasing

It wasn't even like you would pray that we really need his wicket he is a good player

Him firing and taking away the game from the opposition when chasing was expected like you would expect the sun to come out the next day

That's how intimidating, dominating he was for the opp in 2016 peak

What a peak! You can crunch up all the numbers in the world and compare other people to his peak but that impact is rare to find

That's why I always hesitate to put any batsman infront of Kolhi (and probably will even after his retirement)

2016 is his crown jewel

 

[Minnowbasher]

Problem babar has is that he doesnt play nearly as much cricket against big 3 nations like kohli does.
Hes 26 and has only played 80 odd odis
In this time kohli had played way over 100 odis.

 

[NoBallZombie]

Care to show witch game Kohli ruthlessly took away iver the past years in Test and ODI's?

Again, there is no shame in being out of form, Kohli's ODI numbers are still very very fine but he is quite a margin behind Babar. The problem with with posters like Hasan123 and Mamoon who hate and can't accept simple facts like these.

Bhai you are talking about someone who thinks likes of Gill , Rahul, rahane — infant anyone in blue — are better than Babar.

 

[Buffet]

12 months??

 

[Buffet]

Over last two years,

Test averages:-

Labuschagne 72
Babar 66
Rohit 64
Smith 63
Williamson 61

ODI averages( vs top 8 teams):-

Shakib 84 @91
Stokes 72 @ 100
Babar 66 @9
Rohit 64 @95
Kane 62 @76
Kohli 56@ 94
KL Rahul 55@94
Pandya 52 @119

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Your message will fly over the head.

---

It is meaningless to compare two specific player's stats in 12 months or 24 months. Yes, Kohli may be a benchmark, but there will be many others who may have better stats than Kohli in 12 months or 24 months.

One can open a thread, Stokes Vs Kohli, in the last 12 months or 24 months.

 

[NoBallZombie]

Your message will fly over the head.

---

It is meaningless to compare two specific player's stats in 12 months or 24 months. Yes, Kohli may be a benchmark, but there will be many others who may have better stats than Kohli in 12 months or 24 months.

One can open a thread, Stokes Vs Kohli, in the last 12 months or 24 months.

OP asked a simple question: are Babar’s stats over last 2 years better that Kohli’s? Answer is yes. No need to bring xyz into discussion.

If he had asked is Babar better than kohli overall, the answer would be no. If he had asked “is Babar’s record better than kohli’s peak” ... the answer would still be a No. Not sure why everyone is getting their knickers in a twist with this one. Geez the lack of comprehension by some posters here is astounding, just focus on the question asked and discuss and debate that.

 

[Buffet]

OP asked a simple question: are Babar’s stats over last 2 years better that Kohli’s?

Why will you ask the question after you put the stats already?

2+2 = 4, yes or no?

 

[hurricanes]

Somebody already mentioned above, but even in last 2 years Babar is no way in the same league as Kohli.Several things come to mind like the quality of the opposition that Pakistan plays with these days and the quality that India does, the impact of the runs on matches and opposition etc.

If you are just are bent on going by numbers, then I ask you "Do you agree just in batting that Shakib and Stokes are way better than Babar"?

For some periods even legends like Tendulkar, Richards etc had averages less than some bowlers/alrounders. Are you willing to concede that just for those 2 years those bowlers are better batsmen than Tendulkar and Richards?

 

[jnaveen1980]

Rohit sharma has outperformed Kohli in Tests and ODI during this phase. Pant and Sundar produced more telling knocks than Kohli during this phase. T20 is where he genuinely showed glimpses of his old form.

 

[Mobashir]

Your message will fly over the head.

---

It is meaningless to compare two specific player's stats in 12 months or 24 months. Yes, Kohli may be a benchmark, but there will be many others who may have better stats than Kohli in 12 months or 24 months.

One can open a thread, Stokes Vs Kohli, in the last 12 months or 24 months.

True. And that should be accepted.

But some people still think that even over the past two years Kohli was better.

 

[Mamoon]

Yes, we all know why you had to hide the opposition while providing these “stats”.

Babar has been scoring match-losing ODI hundreds at home against the likes of Zimbabwe and got rinsed by Maharaj in the home Test series against South Africa where he completely flopped.

Not to mention he played home Tests against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in this period, and the only tough away series he played (England 2020) he flopped.

Kohli has primarily played the top sides over the last two years, hence a comparison cannot be justified.

Kohli is and always will be better than Babar and so will Rohit. Babar is a fine player but he is simply not at their level. No Pakistan batsman ever was or ever will be.

These type of threads simply reinforce the idea that Pakistani fans are the most delusional in the world and know nothing about cricket.

There is no doubt that Kohli has had a dip in form for his remarkable standards over the past 2 years, but no team in the world will pick Babar over Kohli even today.

Overall, the best all-format batsman from 2019 onwards has to be Rohit Sharma.

Babar should first learn to score big in home Tests instead of missing straight balls from ordinary spinners. Let him notch up a few double-hundreds before comparing him to one of the greats of all time and someone who is levels above any batsman Pakistan has ever produced.

 

[Mamoon]

True. And that should be accepted.

But some people still think that even over the past two years Kohli was better.

He would not flop against South Africa at home like Babar did few months back, so yes he is better even on current form.

 

[Mobashir]

Yes, we all know why you had to hide the opposition while providing these “stats”.

Babar has been scoring match-losing ODI hundreds at home against the likes of Zimbabwe and got rinsed by Maharaj in the home Test series against South Africa where he completely flopped.

Not to mention he played home Tests against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in this period, and the only tough away series he played (England 2020) he flopped.

Kohli has primarily played the top sides over the last two years, hence a comparison cannot be justified.

Kohli is and always will be better than Babar and so will Rohit. Babar is a fine player but he is simply not at their level. No Pakistan batsman ever was or ever will be.

These type of threads simply reinforce the idea that Pakistani fans are the most delusional in the world and know nothing about cricket.

There is no doubt that Kohli has had a dip in form for his remarkable standards over the past 2 years, but no team in the world will pick Babar over Kohli even today.

Overall, the best all-format batsman from 2019 onwards has to be Rohit Sharma.

Babar should first learn to score big in home Tests instead of missing straight balls from ordinary spinners. Let him notch up a few double-hundreds before comparing him to one of the greats of all time and someone who is levels above any batsman Pakistan has ever produced.

You and Hasan123 are the only two who are refusing to see Babar has clearly been better than Kohli over the past two years.

Even Babar's flop against SA at home had 2 good innings out of 4, nothing to do with Kohli's flop at home against England.

Babar didn't flop in England, he was okay. Played a beautiful innings 1st test, 1st innings and then also a good one in the last test.
The definition of flop is what Kohli did in NZ.

Babar was very good in his two tests in Australia,while Kohli had just one and was lesser even there.

The two centuries Kohli has over the two years are also at home against SA and Bangladesh.


Surprisingly you didn't touched ODI'S.

The 2 centuries Kohli has in ODI'S are against West indies.
Babar has yesterday's one, the world cup one vs NZ, the one chasing against Zimbabwe.

It's not about who will someone pick in the team.
It's about who has done better, and there is just one candidate for it : Babar.

 

[King_Kohli]

Last two years?
Remove 2020, there was no much cricket happened during pandemic.

Kohli is good in 2019 and had lean phase in 2020.

Comparing with Rohit is apt. Rohit is much better than Babar in last two years.

 

[Mamoon]

You and Hasan123 are the only two who are refusing to see Babar has clearly been better than Kohli over the past two years.

Even Babar's flop against SA at home had 2 good innings out of 4, nothing to do with Kohli's flop at home against England.

Babar didn't flop in England, he was okay. Played a beautiful innings 1st test, 1st innings and then also a good one in the last test.
The definition of flop is what Kohli did in NZ.

Babar was very good in his two tests in Australia,while Kohli had just one and was lesser even there.

The two centuries Kohli has over the two years are also at home against SA and Bangladesh.


Surprisingly you didn't touched ODI'S.

The 2 centuries Kohli has in ODI'S are against West indies.
Babar has yesterday's one, the world cup one vs NZ, the one chasing against Zimbabwe.

It's not about who will someone pick in the team.
It's about who has done better, and there is just one candidate for it : Babar.

The fact that you are calling Babar’s performance in England a good one and are highlighting the innings in the third Test which came when the match was done and dusted shows your bias.

If Kohli had done the same after flopping when it mattered, you would have broken your keyboard.

The reality is that if both Babar and Kohli were in the same team over the last 2 years, Kohli would have outperformed and so would Rohit Sharma.

Please stop embarrassing yourself by comparing Babar to Indian batsmen who are far better than any batsmen we have ever produced.

You have found your voice again after going into hiding after the Adelaide Test simply because India lost a few white ball matches to England (but won both series), but maybe you should at least try to not lose your perspective, even though I know it is almost impossible for you when it comes to Indian players.

These “stats” mean nothing and belong in the garbage. Kohli has not been at his best over the last 2 years but he is still a better batsman than Babar.

Babar should first prove himself to be better than the likes of Rahul, Agarwal, Pant etc. before dreaming of comparisons with a player who is miles above the likes of Miandad, Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc.

I saw Agarwal at home against Maharaj and other South African bowlers and I also saw Babar. One was scoring double tons while the other was clueless against arm balls after hitting a couple of cover drives.

You live in your own parallel universe where Babar is the best batsman in the world and better than Kohli. If this is what gives you happiness, maybe people like me should abstain from giving you a reality-check and disturbing your peace.

 

[Mobashir]

The fact that you are calling Babar’s performance in England a good one and are highlighting the innings in the third Test which came when the match was done and dusted shows your bias.

If Kohli had done the same after flopping when it mattered, you would have broken your keyboard.

The reality is that if both Babar and Kohli were in the same team over the last 2 years, Kohli would have outperformed and so would Rohit Sharma.

Please stop embarrassing yourself by comparing Babar to Indian batsmen who are far better than any batsmen we have ever produced.

You have found your voice again after going into hiding after the Adelaide Test simply because India lost a few white ball matches to England (but won both series), but maybe you should at least try to not lose your perspective, even though I know it is almost impossible for you when it comes to Indian players.

These “stats” mean nothing and belong in the garbage. Kohli has not been at his best over the last 2 years but he is still a better batsman than Babar.

Babar should first prove himself to be better than the likes of Rahul, Agarwal, Pant etc. before dreaming of comparisons with a player who is miles above the likes of Miandad, Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc.

I saw Agarwal at home against Maharaj and other South African bowlers and I also saw Babar. One was scoring double tons while the other was clueless against arm balls after hitting a couple of cover drives.

You live in your own parallel universe where Babar is the best batsman in the world and better than Kohli. If this is what gives you happiness, maybe people like me should abstain from giving you a reality-check and disturbing your peace.

I have said he was okay and not good in England. But lying is part of your propaganda!

Your only argument is "would have".

So far you are in a parallel world, you are just 2 here who disagree the facts.

 

[Ahmed216]

The fact that you are calling Babar’s performance in England a good one and are highlighting the innings in the third Test which came when the match was done and dusted shows your bias.

If Kohli had done the same after flopping when it mattered, you would have broken your keyboard.

The reality is that if both Babar and Kohli were in the same team over the last 2 years, Kohli would have outperformed and so would Rohit Sharma.

Please stop embarrassing yourself by comparing Babar to Indian batsmen who are far better than any batsmen we have ever produced.

You have found your voice again after going into hiding after the Adelaide Test simply because India lost a few white ball matches to England (but won both series), but maybe you should at least try to not lose your perspective, even though I know it is almost impossible for you when it comes to Indian players.

These “stats” mean nothing and belong in the garbage. Kohli has not been at his best over the last 2 years but he is still a better batsman than Babar.

Babar should first prove himself to be better than the likes of Rahul, Agarwal, Pant etc. before dreaming of comparisons with a player who is miles above the likes of Miandad, Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc.

I saw Agarwal at home against Maharaj and other South African bowlers and I also saw Babar. One was scoring double tons while the other was clueless against arm balls after hitting a couple of cover drives.

You live in your own parallel universe where Babar is the best batsman in the world and better than Kohli. If this is what gives you happiness, maybe people like me should abstain from giving you a reality-check and disturbing your peace.

To retain whatever little credibility u've as a poster u need to stop comparing the likes of rahul and agarwal to babar.
The best of experts and fans dont mention these guys in the same breath as babar.
Had rahul been in Pak and babar in India all looks very silly

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Yes, in the last two years Babar has performed better than Kohli.

Rishabh Pant has outperformed Kohli in test cricket, Rohit Sharma has done better than Kohli in all formats and even Williamson and Root have been better.

So what?

 

[jiduguravindra]

So what?

So babar is better batsmen when compared to kohli.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

So babar is better batsmen when compared to kohli.

In the last two years, yes but even Pant, Sharma, Williamsom, Stokes are better so it's not really an achievement to outperform a guy who was in a slump

 

[MesonK]

BA has destroyed Kohli in last 2 years going by filtered stats not opinions

If Kohli ends his test career the way he has been playing in last 2 years then his legacy will be tarnished. he will be remembered as a Tier 2 great who failed in big tourneys KO games and was never exceptionally great in tests cricket.

 

[jiduguravindra]

In the last two years, yes but even Pant, Sharma, Williamsom, Stokes are better so it's not really an achievement to outperform a guy who was in a slump

The point of this thread is only to prove babar is better batsmen than kohli. You know who created this thread and his intention behind it.

 

[MesonK]

Kohli averages 29 in last 10 games with 19 away average.

I have a question, Can we consider someone a ATG if he gets elongated failure patches like these ?

 

[IMMY69]

The only thing that is abundantly obvious, other then the stats, is how people love to change the goal posts.

If tomorrow some starts were given to show that Pakistan is indeed a better team then India then the usual suspects will come to the thread and argue how the stats are taken out of context or that team xyz is actually better then both.

Rather then betray your feelings by showing the utmost hatred you guys feel in your heart, why not take the opening post as a compliment. I.e Kohli is the benchmark, he's a great player and Babar is doing pretty well in comparison to him?


P.s
It's that same argument when one poster called Pakistan's 2017 ICC champions trophy victory a fluke. It's pathetic and small minded and shows how insecure you are as a person

 

[rhony]

Over last two years,

Test averages:-

Labuschagne 72
Babar 66
Rohit 64
Smith 63
Williamson 61

ODI averages( vs top 8 teams):-

Shakib 84 @91
Stokes 72 @ 100
Babar 66 @9
Rohit 64 @95
Kane 62 @76
Kohli 56@ 94
KL Rahul 55@94
Pandya 52 @119

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Babar is gun player. I'm sure his peak is ahead of him. If he has one more good batsman that can match his stature, he will go to the next level. Who knows maybe Rizwan is that guy. Kohli has Rohit.

Many think this is Kohli's dip in form but I think this is the new normal for him. His peak is behind him but he's still a damn good player. He's smarter but he's also very vulnerable. Some of his dismissals were unbelievable. He will surely go down as one of the greats. He will win many more games for his country than Babar does despite scoring the same number of runs chasing the same targets. Babar will have better records than Kohli here on and can be Kohli's heir if he wins games for his country with ruthless efficiency. Let's see if he can go to that level.

Look at Pandya's record. Avg of 52@119. Now that's the shocking stat in the entire list. What a player!!

 

[Mamoon]

To retain whatever little credibility u've as a poster u need to stop comparing the likes of rahul and agarwal to babar.
The best of experts and fans dont mention these guys in the same breath as babar.
Had rahul been in Pak and babar in India all looks very silly

I don’t care about my credibility on this forum because 99% of the posters are delusional and know nothing about cricket.

Their views and opinions would have been completely different if they were born on the different side of the border.

I don’t need to certifications of approval from these people.

These so-called experts lack perception as well. These ex-Pakistani players and analysts have no cricketing IQs and it is amazing that they even had the ability to play international cricket, while the so-called experts in the UK needlessly pander to Pakistan cricket because they are psychologically damaged by the era of Wasim and Waqar when Pakistan pulverized English cricket largely thanks to ball-tampering.

The reality is that if Babar was in India, his stats would have been completely different because he would not be playing in the top 3 because of Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan.

In Test cricket, he would not be getting a free ride like he did from 2016 to 2018 because the competition in India is very high.

Karun Nair’s career was ended 3-4 matches after he scored a 300 against England. In Pakistan, a batsman who scored a 300 against England, let alone in his second Test, will milk that performance for the rest of his career.

KL Rahul scored 199 vs England and was dropped a few Tests later. Pant scored hundreds on his first tours of Australia and England was dropped soon after.

Agarwal scored a double hundred and a 150 against South Africa against the same bowling attack against which Babar failed few months back, but Agarwal cannot nail his place because the competition is intense.

Pakistani fans should think twice and thrice before embarrassing themselves by comparing their batsmen to India’s. India is a totally different beast as far as expectations from batsmen are concerned.

Dhawan cannot find a place in the Test team in spite of averaging in the 40s and then look at our openers.

Babar would be considered just a decent player in India while in Pakistan, he is considered the best thing since sliced bread.

The issue that is Pakistan is such a poor side with so little talent and skill that any good player gets hyped to the moon and beyond.

I mean our fans are so delusional that they are even comparing the batting capabilities of Rizwan and Pant.

Babar is a quality batsman but he is in the same league as the support cast of Indian batting such KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

He is not anywhere near the level of Kohli and Rohit or Pujara in Tests. Kohli and Rohit are better batsmen than anyone we have ever produced.

People downplay Rohit’s record in Test cricket but you put him in the same side as Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc. and he will outperform them all. His skill level is incredibly high.

Our fans really need to stop deluding themselves by comparing their players with Indians. The Indian cricket is several notches above Pakistan in terms of talent, skill and mentality.

We simply do not have the capacity to produce players, especially batsmen, who could compete with the best that India has to offer.

 

[Mamoon]

I have said he was okay and not good in England. But lying is part of your propaganda!

Your only argument is "would have".

So far you are in a parallel world, you are just 2 here who disagree the facts.

You called his innings in the third Test a good one which shows your bias. It was a completely useless innings under no pressure because the match was already over.

He failed when it mattered.

Also, comparing Kohli scoring ODI hundreds in West Indies with Babar scoring vs Zimbabwe shows your desperation.

Kohli wouldn’t even bother to play against Zimbabwe, let alone care to score a match-losing hundred against them.

 

[Savak]

Babar needs to maintain this for ten years and Ofcourse bring his mom tally up big time

 

[Ahmed216]

I don’t care about my credibility on this forum because 99% of the posters are delusional and know nothing about cricket.

Their views and opinions would have been completely different if they were born on the different side of the border.

I don’t need to certifications of approval from these people.

These so-called experts lack perception as well. These ex-Pakistani players and analysts have no cricketing IQs and it is amazing that they even had the ability to play international cricket, while the so-called experts in the UK needlessly pander to Pakistan cricket because they are psychologically damaged by the era of Wasim and Waqar when Pakistan pulverized English cricket largely thanks to ball-tampering.

The reality is that if Babar was in India, his stats would have been completely different because he would not be playing in the top 3 because of Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan.

In Test cricket, he would not be getting a free ride like he did from 2016 to 2018 because the competition in India is very high.

Karun Nair’s career was ended 3-4 matches after he scored a 300 against England. In Pakistan, a batsman who scored a 300 against England, let alone in his second Test, will milk that performance for the rest of his career.

KL Rahul scored 199 vs England and was dropped a few Tests later. Pant scored hundreds on his first tours of Australia and England was dropped soon after.

Agarwal scored a double hundred and a 150 against South Africa against the same bowling attack against which Babar failed few months back, but Agarwal cannot nail his place because the competition is intense.

Pakistani fans should think twice and thrice before embarrassing themselves by comparing their batsmen to India’s. India is a totally different beast as far as expectations from batsmen are concerned.

Dhawan cannot find a place in the Test team in spite of averaging in the 40s and then look at our openers.

Babar would be considered just a decent player in India while in Pakistan, he is considered the best thing since sliced bread.

The issue that is Pakistan is such a poor side with so little talent and skill that any good player gets hyped to the moon and beyond.

I mean our fans are so delusional that they are even comparing the batting capabilities of Rizwan and Pant.

Babar is a quality batsman but he is in the same league as the support cast of Indian batting such KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

He is not anywhere near the level of Kohli and Rohit or Pujara in Tests. Kohli and Rohit are better batsmen than anyone we have ever produced.

People downplay Rohit’s record in Test cricket but you put him in the same side as Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc. and he will outperform them all. His skill level is incredibly high.

Our fans really need to stop deluding themselves by comparing their players with Indians. The Indian cricket is several notches above Pakistan in terms of talent, skill and mentality.

We simply do not have the capacity to produce players, especially batsmen, who could compete with the best that India has to offer.

Summary: every one except sir mamoon is delusional
~ ex players all around the world lack perception.
~ karun nair was dropped after scoring triple ton . Logically that makes babar ordinary.
~ babar wouldnt get to play in top 3 in India. Mamoon bhai's completely forgotten india carried rohit for 5-6 years in odi cricket and his average after 100 games was 30.
~ rohit is a better test player although he has nothing to show as away record in the format

 

[MHN1293]

I don’t care about my credibility on this forum because 99% of the posters are delusional and know nothing about cricket.

Their views and opinions would have been completely different if they were born on the different side of the border.

I don’t need to certifications of approval from these people.

These so-called experts lack perception as well. These ex-Pakistani players and analysts have no cricketing IQs and it is amazing that they even had the ability to play international cricket, while the so-called experts in the UK needlessly pander to Pakistan cricket because they are psychologically damaged by the era of Wasim and Waqar when Pakistan pulverized English cricket largely thanks to ball-tampering.

The reality is that if Babar was in India, his stats would have been completely different because he would not be playing in the top 3 because of Rohit, Kohli and Dhawan.

In Test cricket, he would not be getting a free ride like he did from 2016 to 2018 because the competition in India is very high.

Karun Nair’s career was ended 3-4 matches after he scored a 300 against England. In Pakistan, a batsman who scored a 300 against England, let alone in his second Test, will milk that performance for the rest of his career.

KL Rahul scored 199 vs England and was dropped a few Tests later. Pant scored hundreds on his first tours of Australia and England was dropped soon after.

Agarwal scored a double hundred and a 150 against South Africa against the same bowling attack against which Babar failed few months back, but Agarwal cannot nail his place because the competition is intense.

Pakistani fans should think twice and thrice before embarrassing themselves by comparing their batsmen to India’s. India is a totally different beast as far as expectations from batsmen are concerned.

Dhawan cannot find a place in the Test team in spite of averaging in the 40s and then look at our openers.

Babar would be considered just a decent player in India while in Pakistan, he is considered the best thing since sliced bread.

The issue that is Pakistan is such a poor side with so little talent and skill that any good player gets hyped to the moon and beyond.

I mean our fans are so delusional that they are even comparing the batting capabilities of Rizwan and Pant.

Babar is a quality batsman but he is in the same league as the support cast of Indian batting such KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

He is not anywhere near the level of Kohli and Rohit or Pujara in Tests. Kohli and Rohit are better batsmen than anyone we have ever produced.

People downplay Rohit’s record in Test cricket but you put him in the same side as Inzamam, Yousuf, Younis etc. and he will outperform them all. His skill level is incredibly high.

Our fans really need to stop deluding themselves by comparing their players with Indians. The Indian cricket is several notches above Pakistan in terms of talent, skill and mentality.

We simply do not have the capacity to produce players, especially batsmen, who could compete with the best that India has to offer.

Lucky tendulkar. If he was playing for this england side he would have only gotten a few chances and wouldnt have been persisted with after not doing anything impressive for his first 50 odd odi matches. Does that undermine tendulkars legacy though. No.

 

[topspin]

[MENTION=43051]Mobashir[/MENTION]

You can't just post numbers without revealing the opposition sides. You take us for fools, but the reality is not all of us are stupid enough to accept stats (without any context) at face value.

So if you can be kind enough, provide a breakdown of these milestones by opposition. If you can't do that, your claims are just worthless.

 

[pratiktc]

The only thing that is abundantly obvious, other then the stats, is how people love to change the goal posts.

If tomorrow some starts were given to show that Pakistan is indeed a better team then India then the usual suspects will come to the thread and argue how the stats are taken out of context or that team xyz is actually better then both.

Rather then betray your feelings by showing the utmost hatred you guys feel in your heart, why not take the opening post as a compliment. I.e Kohli is the benchmark, he's a great player and Babar is doing pretty well in comparison to him?


P.s
It's that same argument when one poster called Pakistan's 2017 ICC champions trophy victory a fluke. It's pathetic and small minded and shows how insecure you are as a person

But OP post is no backhanded compliment. He has pulled out a fact that within a certain time period Babar Azam has statistically done better than Kohli. While what OP says is a fact, it is also a fact that Babar and Kohli are not in same league to be compared. It is no shame to Babar because even a high quality batsman like Kane Williamson is light years behind Kohli in ODIs

Kohli is so far ahead of the pack in ODIs that they are different species.

An example of what level Kohli operates at in terms of ability and confidence is recent India vs Eng series. Despite being in a relative form slump Kohli went ahead with implementing the new India batting blueprint of aggressive batting even changing the blueprint in match 3 to start from overs 1-10 instead of 30+

In match 2 he was set on 50+ by over 30 and could have sleepwalked his way to a century but true to plan he took onus himself to lead the charge and got out.

If Kohli decides to only make runs as an accumulator rather than change the DNA of Indian cricket he can in ODIs finish with close to 75 hundreds and a 55+ avg eyes closed. But being the GOAT he is, his goals are different and his path is different. Not only will he leave as the GOAT Indian batsman but he will also establish a dynasty of excellence.

Even in this 'slump' Kohli has played lone hand
test innss (70+ in pink ball test against peak Aus attack, 70+ against peak Anderson when batting collapsed around him) that would be minor epics in the sagas of several other illustrious batters' careers. It is a mark of Kohli's greatness and the expectation he has engendered that these don't even qualify as memorable in his career.

 

[Mamoon]

Lucky tendulkar. If he was playing for this england side he would have only gotten a few chances and wouldnt have been persisted with after not doing anything impressive for his first 50 odd odi matches. Does that undermine tendulkars legacy though. No.

Tendulkar was once in a lifetime talent. He is far greater than anyone England have ever produced. At the age of 16, he was smashing the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee on a green-tops.

He took a while to get going in ODIs particularly because he wasn’t playing at the top of the order, but he was already doing remarkable things in Test cricket and India knew it was only a matter of time before he tees of in ODIs as well.

If England had someone like him who was already doing incredible things in Test cricket in his teens, they would also give him a very long rope in the other formats because they would know that the pay-off is going to be huge.

 

[Mamoon]

Summary: every one except sir mamoon is delusional
~ ex players all around the world lack perception.
~ karun nair was dropped after scoring triple ton . Logically that makes babar ordinary.
~ babar wouldnt get to play in top 3 in India. Mamoon bhai's completely forgotten india carried rohit for 5-6 years in odi cricket and his average after 100 games was 30.
~ rohit is a better test player although he has nothing to show as away record in the format

What you have conveniently ignored is that Babar is not at the same level - ability wise - as Rohit.

Rohit is one of the most gifted players in history. It is a tragedy that he took 5-6 years to find his game otherwise he would be in the same league in all formats as Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting etc.

He should have been an all-time great in Test cricket as well. It could have still happened since his resurgence in 2013 but India criminally underutilized him as a Test opener.

If Babar had the same ability as Rohit, he would also get a long rope in India. However, potential wise, he is in the Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal tier and not Rohit/Kohli.

 

[avihash]

It is easy to see that Babar is a poor mans kohli. If only people like Rahul Etc would be given as long a consistent run as Babar and only expectation would be to accumulate at a mediocre pace they would have be miles ahead of him. Kl scored a run a ball 100 few days ago and nobody even cared to notice, BA did the same yesterday and he is now better than Kohli. Joke of a thread.

 

[Ahmed216]

What you have conveniently ignored is that Babar is not at the same level - ability wise - as Rohit.

Rohit is one of the most gifted players in history. It is a tragedy that he took 5-6 years to find his game otherwise he would be in the same league in all formats as Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting etc.

He should have been an all-time great in Test cricket as well. It could have still happened since his resurgence in 2013 but India criminally underutilized him as a Test opener.

If Babar had the same ability as Rohit, he would also get a long rope in India. However, potential wise, he is in the Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal tier and not Rohit/Kohli.

Potential that does not translate to performances holds no value or meaning. Babar is playing the same level of cricket against the same bowlers as rahul iyer agarwal. Rankings would tell you they are nowhere close to babar in any of tje formats. He's good in all three formats. Even then if you choose to believe they are of same class as babar then you are even more deluded than any of fans

 

[Ahmed216]

What you have conveniently ignored is that Babar is not at the same level - ability wise - as Rohit.

Rohit is one of the most gifted players in history. It is a tragedy that he took 5-6 years to find his game otherwise he would be in the same league in all formats as Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting etc.

He should have been an all-time great in Test cricket as well. It could have still happened since his resurgence in 2013 but India criminally underutilized him as a Test opener.

If Babar had the same ability as Rohit, he would also get a long rope in India. However, potential wise, he is in the Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal tier and not Rohit/Kohli.

Indian players without even performing are greats according to you. Ability potential blah blah

 

[JattMaula]

Kaptaan's lucky purple patch is over. He is finished.

 

[Ted123]

What you have conveniently ignored is that Babar is not at the same level - ability wise - as Rohit.

Rohit is one of the most gifted players in history. It is a tragedy that he took 5-6 years to find his game otherwise he would be in the same league in all formats as Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting etc.

He should have been an all-time great in Test cricket as well. It could have still happened since his resurgence in 2013 but India criminally underutilized him as a Test opener.

If Babar had the same ability as Rohit, he would also get a long rope in India. However, potential wise, he is in the Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal tier and not Rohit/Kohli.

Except Kohli, Babar is better than all Indian players of this era. Rohit and Pujara both are inferior batsman across all formats to Babar.

Other names are not fit enough to tie the shoelace of Babar.

 

[Mesozoic]

Man these threads are just so so silly...

Of course Babar on current form is a better than Kohli. And so are the likes of Rohit, Rishabh, Labushagne, Rizwan, Fawad Alam, Finch, Sean Williams and probably many more..The guy hasn't scored a 100 in like a gazillion games.

Babar fans have got to stop being so insecure all the time and just enjoy these knocks.

 

[King_Kohli]

Kaptaan's lucky purple patch is over. He is finished.

Lucky?
Come on.

 

[Ab Fan]

Kaptaan's lucky purple patch is over. He is finished.

Kaptaan's luck has gone for a toss since he took the captaincy of RCB.

He should probably look to change his team next year during the auction.

 

[AMSS]

These cherry picked stats cannot hide the fact that Babar has a grand total of 1 test century in SENA after 14 tests. That's a solid sample right there.

Virat has 11 centuries after 32 tests in these countries.

 

[BreadPakoda]

These cherry picked stats cannot hide the fact that Babar has a grand total of 1 test century in SENA after 14 tests. That's a solid sample right there.

Virat has 11 centuries after 32 tests in these countries.

Where was the century? Did it come in a win or on a placid track where opposition batters were making runs for fun?

Kohli got too much scrutiny earlier in his career for not performing overseas despite a 100 in Oz. This was before he conquered Australia and England. If Babar reaches Kohli’s 2013/14 level, he too will receive scrutiny.

The bigger the player, more the discussions, more the scrutiny.

 

[pillionrider]

Tendulkar was once in a lifetime talent. He is far greater than anyone England have ever produced. At the age of 16, he was smashing the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee on a green-tops.

He took a while to get going in ODIs particularly because he wasn’t playing at the top of the order, but he was already doing remarkable things in Test cricket and India knew it was only a matter of time before he tees of in ODIs as well.

At 16, he smashed Abdul Qadir, arguably the greatest spinner at the time for 4 sixes in an over. It was an unofficial ODI game due to rain or something. But the hitting he apparently put on show that had Qadir oohing and aahing even decades later would have everyone in the Indian team who anyway already knew of his domestic exploits.

He almost broke the world record for youngest centurion vs NZ and only got out wanting to get there in a flurry of boundaries.

Then there was the 50 odd vs Pak in the 92 WC game.

He smashed Marshall in ODIs. There were just too many displays of supreme ability without the elusive 100 for anyone to really hold that against him.

 

[Bilal7]

Over last two years,

Test averages:-

Labuschagne 72
Babar 66
Rohit 64
Smith 63
Williamson 61

ODI averages( vs top 8 teams):-

Shakib 84 @91
Stokes 72 @ 100
Babar 66 @9
Rohit 64 @95
Kane 62 @76
Kohli 56@ 94
KL Rahul 55@94
Pandya 52 @119

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...9;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

Thank you for these stats. This shows us that Babar has been the best batsman in the world over the last two years. Averaging 65+ in both tests and ODIs, with great numbers in T20 cricket to back it up is simply incredible.

Babar is the best in the world. No disrespect to Kohli, who is one of the greatest of all-time.

 

[Mesozoic]

Calling a guy with a grand total of one Test match hundred away from home "the best in the world".... )

If this same thing was done to an Indian batsman, PP would have crashed by now...

 

[Mobashir]

Man these threads are just so so silly...

Of course Babar on current form is a better than Kohli. And so are the likes of Rohit, Rishabh, Labushagne, Rizwan, Fawad Alam, Finch, Sean Williams and probably many more..The guy hasn't scored a 100 in like a gazillion games.

Babar fans have got to stop being so insecure all the time and just enjoy these knocks.

What is normal for you, me and others here isn't for poster like Mamoon.
He is in a world of ifs and would haves...

 

[BaankeJi]

Thank you for these stats. This shows us that Babar has been the best batsman in the world over the last two years. Averaging 65+ in both tests and ODIs, with great numbers in T20 cricket to back it up is simply incredible.

Babar is the best in the world. No disrespect to Kohli, who is one of the greatest of all-time.

True. Babar has been the best over last two years. Not only more prolific than Kohli but than others like Root and Smith as well.

 

[Bigboii]

Man these threads are just so so silly...

Of course Babar on current form is a better than Kohli. And so are the likes of Rohit, Rishabh, Labushagne, Rizwan, Fawad Alam, Finch, Sean Williams and probably many more..The guy hasn't scored a 100 in like a gazillion games.

Babar fans have got to stop being so insecure all the time and just enjoy these knocks.

this

He is one of the most asthetically pleasing batsman in a game which isn't too keen on "viewers" experience

Why can't we just sit back get our popcorns and enjoy the magic

Stats can't get the magic he creates on the Field with his textbook shots

It's not worth it, just have fun, and enjoy his batting

 

[Ab Fan]

There shouldn't be any debate on whether Babar is the best batsman around after the fab four across all formats.


The fab four have covered 60-70% of their career and post that there isn't any batsman bar Babar who has done great across all formats. I did rated QDk highly a year ago but since then he has been awful after the pressure of captaincy and leadership. His World Cup record is pretty disastrous too.

Babar is comfortably ahead and rest are either two young or still to establish across all three formats. KL Rahul needs to cement his spot in test, Markram is yet to cement his spot in LOIs and although Labuschagne has done great in tests, he just doesn't seem like a great LOI prospect. QDk was probably closest but has been found wanting under pressure situations for SA.

 

[Mamoon]

Potential that does not translate to performances holds no value or meaning. Babar is playing the same level of cricket against the same bowlers as rahul iyer agarwal. Rankings would tell you they are nowhere close to babar in any of tje formats. He's good in all three formats. Even then if you choose to believe they are of same class as babar then you are even more deluded than any of fans

If Babar was Indian, he would not be anywhere close to the top rankings because he will not get a chance in the top 3 in ODIs because of Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli and he wouldn’t be allowed the luxury of failing in Test cricket for 2 years.

T20Is is the only format where KL Rahul has had a consistent run at a consistent position and it is not surprising to see that he has outperformed Babar and played more explosive knocks.

Ignorant fans can say what they want. The reality is Babar is in the same league as the likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

The only difference is that KL Rahul, Iyer and Agarwal etc. do not have the luxury of playing for a talentless cricket nation like Pakistan where 99% of the batsmen are bang average and where a genuinely good batsman faces virtually no competition.

Babar is a quality batsman but ultimately he is a deaf king among blind men. In Pakistan colors, he looks better than he really is because everyone else is so poor.

He opens the innings in T20Is and bats at 3 in ODIs and is allowed to play at his own pace. He also faces a lot of minnows and weak teams which allows him to fill his boots and climb to the top of the rankings.

He is never under pressure to keep his place in the team, he doesn’t get shafted up and down the order and there is no breathing down his neck because there is no competition in Pakistan. Moreover, there is pressure on him to alter his playing style.

I mean our standards are so embarrassingly low that an average player like Fawad Alam is treated like a hero for scoring a couple of baby hundreds and averaging 35 post comeback.

In India, a 35 year old Fawad Alam averaging 35 (including 10 in England) after 3 series will be out of the door and will never get another look because there are a dozen plus batsmen waiting in the rankings who can do better than him.

As I said earlier, Indian cricket is a completely different beast and keeping your place in the Indian team and performing is a completely different challenge.

It is very, very difficult for a young Indian batsmen to cement his place in the LOI teams when your competition is Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli - the most prolific top 3 in history of ODIs.

The likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc. would also be near the top of the rankings if they were competing with the likes of Fakhar, Imam, Abid, Shan Masood, Imran Butt, Fawad Alam etc. for a place in the team.

 

[Mamoon]

Except Kohli, Babar is better than all Indian players of this era. Rohit and Pujara both are inferior batsman across all formats to Babar.

Other names are not fit enough to tie the shoelace of Babar.

I don’t need lectures on delusional mentality when you are asserting - with a straight face -that Babar is a better batsman than Rohit Sharma across formats.

Pujara is a much better Test batsman than Babar and while the others might not be fit to tie his shoelaces, they might teach Babar a thing or two about scoring 200s and 300s in Test cricket.

As the great Mirza Ghalib succinctly stated:

“Hum ko maloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin
Dil ko khush rakhnay ko Ghalib ye khayal achha hai”

 

[Artaxerxes]

I don't understand this obsession of comparing Pakistani cricket and cricketers with India cricket.Why are people wasting their time arguing about who has best batsmen or best bowlers.If Indian had good batsmen then good luck to India.I don't care.

 

[Bilal7]

If Babar was Indian, he would not be anywhere close to the top rankings because he will not get a chance in the top 3 in ODIs because of Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli and he wouldn’t be allowed the luxury of failing in Test cricket for 2 years.

T20Is is the only format where KL Rahul has had a consistent run at a consistent position and it is not surprising to see that he has outperformed Babar and played more explosive knocks.

Ignorant fans can say what they want. The reality is Babar is in the same league as the likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

The only difference is that KL Rahul, Iyer and Agarwal etc. do not have the luxury of playing for a talentless cricket nation like Pakistan where 99% of the batsmen are bang average and where a genuinely good batsman faces virtually no competition.

Babar is a quality batsman but ultimately he is a deaf king among blind men. In Pakistan colors, he looks better than he really is because everyone else is so poor.

He opens the innings in T20Is and bats at 3 in ODIs and is allowed to play at his own pace. He also faces a lot of minnows and weak teams which allows him to fill his boots and climb to the top of the rankings.

He is never under pressure to keep his place in the team, he doesn’t get shafted up and down the order and there is no breathing down his neck because there is no competition in Pakistan. Moreover, there is pressure on him to alter his playing style.

I mean our standards are so embarrassingly low that an average player like Fawad Alam is treated like a hero for scoring a couple of baby hundreds and averaging 35 post comeback.

In India, a 35 year old Fawad Alam averaging 35 (including 10 in England) after 3 series will be out of the door and will never get another look because there are a dozen plus batsmen waiting in the rankings who can do better than him.

As I said earlier, Indian cricket is a completely different beast and keeping your place in the Indian team and performing is a completely different challenge.

It is very, very difficult for a young Indian batsmen to cement his place in the LOI teams when your competition is Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli - the most prolific top 3 in history of ODIs.

The likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc. would also be near the top of the rankings if they were competing with the likes of Fakhar, Imam, Abid, Shan Masood, Imran Butt, Fawad Alam etc. for a place in the team.

A whole lot of nothing. Babar hasn't simply outperformed Rahul, Pant and the rest of the overrated young, Indian batsmen. He has objectively been better across formats than Kohli and Rohit. If Babar was Indian, Dhawan would have long been disposed off.

Playing for a weaker team is always a disadvantage, not a plus. This is a poor argument.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Comparisons aside, it surprises me how some people here have the gall to call Babar 'mediocre' or mentally weak. Its just such an intellectually dishonest thing when you fashion yourself as an avid watcher of cricket.

 

[Ahmed216]

If Babar was Indian, he would not be anywhere close to the top rankings because he will not get a chance in the top 3 in ODIs because of Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli and he wouldn’t be allowed the luxury of failing in Test cricket for 2 years.

T20Is is the only format where KL Rahul has had a consistent run at a consistent position and it is not surprising to see that he has outperformed Babar and played more explosive knocks.

Ignorant fans can say what they want. The reality is Babar is in the same league as the likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc.

The only difference is that KL Rahul, Iyer and Agarwal etc. do not have the luxury of playing for a talentless cricket nation like Pakistan where 99% of the batsmen are bang average and where a genuinely good batsman faces virtually no competition.

Babar is a quality batsman but ultimately he is a deaf king among blind men. In Pakistan colors, he looks better than he really is because everyone else is so poor.

He opens the innings in T20Is and bats at 3 in ODIs and is allowed to play at his own pace. He also faces a lot of minnows and weak teams which allows him to fill his boots and climb to the top of the rankings.

He is never under pressure to keep his place in the team, he doesn’t get shafted up and down the order and there is no breathing down his neck because there is no competition in Pakistan. Moreover, there is pressure on him to alter his playing style.

I mean our standards are so embarrassingly low that an average player like Fawad Alam is treated like a hero for scoring a couple of baby hundreds and averaging 35 post comeback.

In India, a 35 year old Fawad Alam averaging 35 (including 10 in England) after 3 series will be out of the door and will never get another look because there are a dozen plus batsmen waiting in the rankings who can do better than him.

As I said earlier, Indian cricket is a completely different beast and keeping your place in the Indian team and performing is a completely different challenge.

It is very, very difficult for a young Indian batsmen to cement his place in the LOI teams when your competition is Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli - the most prolific top 3 in history of ODIs.

The likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal etc. would also be near the top of the rankings if they were competing with the likes of Fakhar, Imam, Abid, Shan Masood, Imran Butt, Fawad Alam etc. for a place in the team.

Playing for a weaker sides also does allow you the freedom and cushion that players in strong sides enjoy. At this stage of his career babar is significantly better than ur ATG rohit and shikhar and marginally better than even kohli.
Rohit has done nothing away from home in tests but in ur book he doesnt have to because you have already labelled him better than younis inzi miandad yousuf.
Also I cannot understand why Indians havent been able to produce a single world class middle order for so long. Y have rahul iyer agarwal not been able to nail spots across formats because India too gives its players fair number of chances?? Answer to this is that potential alone does not take you anywhere. It takes many other qualities for a player to be called world class which Babar has nashallah and the rest of these potential 'superstars' dont.

 

[Mamoon]

A whole lot of nothing. Babar hasn't simply outperformed Rahul, Pant and the rest of the overrated young, Indian batsmen. He has objectively been better across formats than Kohli and Rohit. If Babar was Indian, Dhawan would have long been disposed off.

Playing for a weaker team is always a disadvantage, not a plus. This is a poor argument.

Dhawan is one of the best ODI openers to ever come out of Asia. He is a brilliant player in this particular format and he will not be discarded for Babar.

Babar has outperformed them not because he is a better batsman but because of the circumstances that I have already covered.

However, I would refrain from putting Pant in this list because in spite of limited opportunities, he has done more in Australia and England in three tours than what Babar might struggle to surpass over his entire career.

Playing for a weaker team is not a disadvantage for a quality batsman. You have no pressure to keep your place in the side and you have no pressure to change your playing style and your tempo.

Babar is in a dream situation right now and can accumulate as many runs as he wants without worrying about other factors.

He is like Tendulkar (inferior version) of the early to mid 90’s when he was part of a mediocre Indian team.

The level of job security that he enjoys is not extended to young Indian batsmen.

In India, Babar would not have played more ODIs than what KL Rahul has managed in his career so far because he cannot displace anyone in the top 3 and his tempo and style is not suited for number 4 and below.

Babar is a quality player but he has also lucked out on playing for a team with almost no batting talent and where he is the top guy almost by default.

Even within Pakistan, things would have been very different for Babar if he was playing in the era of Inzamam and Yousuf.

 

[UzmanBeast]

As long as Babar is performing for Pakistan, I don't really care who he is matched up with.

Comparisons at this stage are frankly unnecessary and a waste of time, we should just be grateful that there's a competent batsman on our team who frankly has a long career ahead of himself in all formats.

There will probably be a lot of talk if Babar takes the No.1 ODI batsman slot from Kohli, but that's all talk. Most people with common sense would try and understand that Kohli is a modern great, and that the ICC rankings are rewarding current form, not overall greatness, in which Kohli is leagues ahead of Babar.

Comparing Babar with a guy who has 70 international hundreds is quite needless to say the least.

Yes, Babar may as well be Pakistan's greatest batsman in the years to come, but no Pakistani fan can say that the standards were extremely high, especially in white ball formats, when they weren't.

Already we're seeing some improvements in Babar's game (batting at a higher strike-rate, etc.), and with this attitude to make himself the best, we'll see a very good batsman in years to come.

But at the moment, let him grow as a player, and keep unnecessary comparisons aside.

 

[Mamoon]

Playing for a weaker sides also does allow you the freedom and cushion that players in strong sides enjoy. At this stage of his career babar is significantly better than ur ATG rohit and shikhar and marginally better than even kohli.
Rohit has done nothing away from home in tests but in ur book he doesnt have to because you have already labelled him better than younis inzi miandad yousuf.
Also I cannot understand why Indians havent been able to produce a single world class middle order for so long. Y have rahul iyer agarwal not been able to nail spots across formats because India too gives its players fair number of chances?? Answer to this is that potential alone does not take you anywhere. It takes many other qualities for a player to be called world class which Babar has nashallah and the rest of these potential 'superstars' dont.

This “better than XYZ at this stage” drama means nothing. You can make many players look better than others with this measure.

You can also make Ashwin look like a better Test all-rounder than Imran at this stage of his career and if you do that, Pakistani fans will get foam in their mouths out of anger, so please don’t walk me on that road because if will not end well for you and a few others here.

Rohit has done nothing away from home because India have underutilized him in Test cricket by not opening with him earlier. He should have been the de facto Test opener by 2015-16 when he had already established himself as a world class LOI opener.

Inzamam the so-called great player of fast bowling scored only 1 hundred in his entire career (100+ innings) against Australia and South Africa, two sides, along with WI, with the best fast bowlers in his era.

You put Rohit alongside him and he will score at least 10 hundreds in the numbers of innings that Inzamam played against them, and this is just one example. I can go on and on and on.

The likes of KL Rahul, Iyer, Agarwal, Nair etc. have failed to cement their places in the team because the level of competition is very high and you only have a couple of open spots and many batsmen competing for that spots.

In Test cricket, unless you are as lucky as Rahane, it is very difficult to cement your place in the Indian lineup unless you are averaging close to 50.

Rohit himself couldn’t nail a place in the middle-order because he was average 40, while someone like Shafiq played almost Tests for averaging 39-40.

Can you imagine a Pakistani batsmen getting dropped forever 4 matches after scoring a 300 against Anderson & Broad?

Can you imagine a Pakistani opener getting demoted 3 Tests after scoring a double-century and a 150 against South Africa?

Can you imagine a Pakistani WK getting dropped after scoring centuries on his debut tours of Australia and England?

You certainly cannot, but you can imagine that happening in India.

 

[IMMY69]

Babar is currently one of the most aesthetically pleasing Batsmen too.
Combine this with his stats and you have to be either extremely biased against Pakistan or have little clue about cricket if you don't rate him as one the very best in world cricket.

 

[Savak]

Had Babar been an Indian player, he would face a lot of pressure to expand his game, develop new shots, be able to power hit and most importantly score big daddy hundreds and take the team across the finish line.

If you keep scoring soft runs in the Indian team which mean nothing, no guarantee you will be able to hold on to your place in the side regardless of your individual stats

 

[Savak]

I am personally not hundred percent satisfied with Babar. He gets set, reaches a personal milestone and gets out immediately. Even in test cricket, he has a great day with the bat, next day first over he will get out. The way he struggled against Maharj was disgraceful. The way he got clean bowled of the medium pacer pretorious was disgraceful. You can't have problems like these if you are trying to break into the top 4.

 

[Savak]

As far as Kohli is concerned, I will say that perhaps after marriage he has other priorities in life now. His Bollywood star wife makes sure he focuses on the things she cares about. I am speaking from my own personal experience where the way you do things when you are single is very different vs when you are married as you start reevaluating your options, priorities.

India is doing well in all formats, they have the bowlers, the team has a great supply of batsmen, the team is not dependent on his runs singlehandedly. He can now afford to relax and play the game without any pressure.

 

[Mobashir]

If Babar was Indian, he would not be anywhere close to the top rankings because he will not get a chance in the top 3 in ODIs because of Rohit, Dhawan and Kohli and he wouldn’t be allowed the luxury of failing in Test cricket for 2 years.

First paragraph is enough to know that you don't need the post.
I mean, really, how many times are you going to repeat the same things over and over in every thread? Repeating them makes you believe your "ifs" are facts?

About 6 hours you haven't told us the story of the great Karun Nair being dropped after scoring a triple century....