To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, the Asia Cup 2025 is all set to commence next month. The inaugural fixture of the tournament will witness Afghanistan's encounter with Hong Kong, while arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take on each other on September 14.
When India and Pakistan collide on a cricket field, their fans anticipate marquee players from both teams to thrive under the electric atmosphere. From the days of Gavaskar and Miandad, legends from these two nations have been compared to players with similar attributes from their rival teams.
The case is no different for Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, with Pakistan fans often comparing the latter with the former, especially in white-ball cricket. As the Asia Cup approaches, here we break down the numbers of Kohli and Babar to find out the better player of the two in the history of the competition.
Interestingly, Kohli and Babar have played the Asia Cup in both ODI and T20I formats. Now, let's see how they have performed in these Asia Cup editions separately.
Kohli vs Babar: Who Is Better In ODI Asia Cups? CriterionSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Virat KohliSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Babar AzamSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 654Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 363Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 65.4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 40.3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 102Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 84Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50s/100sSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ODI Asia Cups)
As the data presented in the above table depicts, Virat Kohli has outperformed Babar Azam in the ODI Asia Cup editions. While the Indian talisman has struck 654 runs, including four tons, his Pakistani counterpart has managed just over 40 runs per innings at a significantly lower strike rate.
Furthermore, Kohli has slammed four centuries as compared to just two fifty-plus scores by Babar, signifying his batting prowess in the format.
Kohli vs Babar: Comparison In T20I Asia Cups The 2016 and 2022 Asia Cup editions followed the T20 format. Here are Babar and Kohli's stats in the same.
CriterionSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Virat KohliSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Babar AzamSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 429Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 68Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 85.8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11.3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 132Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 107.9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50s/100sSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0/0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in T20I Asia Cups)
Virat Kohli has played both T20I Asia Cups, amassing 429 runs at a superb average and strike rate, with three fifties and a ton to his name. On the contrary, Babar Azam , who played only the 2022 edition, failed miserably with the bat, averaging just over 11 in the tournament. Thus, Kohli has outclassed Babar in the T20I Asia Cups too.
A Look At Kohli And Babar's Notable Asia Cup Performances Virat Kohli 183 vs Pakistan while chasing 330 in 2012 Asia Cup 136 vs Bangladesh while chasing 280 in 2014 Asia Cup 49 vs Pakistan on a challenging track in 2016 Asia Cup 122* off 61 vs Afghanistan in 2022 Asia Cup 122* off 94 vs Pakistan in 2023 Asia Cup Babar Azam 66 vs Afghanistan in 2018 Asia Cup 151 off 131 vs Nepal in 2023 Asia Cup Conclusion: Virat Kohli Comfortably Edges Out Babar Azam In Asia Cup CriterionSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Virat KohliSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Babar AzamSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 20Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 15Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1083Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 431Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 72.2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 28.73Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Strike RateSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 112.11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 87.07Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 50s/100sSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3/5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1/1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Virat Kohli and Babar Azam's overall stats in Asia Cup)
As shown in the above table, Virat Kohli is miles ahead of Babar Azam in overall Asia Cup numbers. While Kohli averages 72.2, including three hundreds and five fifties across 20 innings, Babar has just 28.73 runs per innings, registering only two fifty-plus scores in 15 outings.
Thus, considering all factors, we conclude that Virat Kohli has comprehensively outplayed Babar Azam in the Asia Cup.
![Virat Kohli and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1755157468901_Kohli_Babar_Asia_Cup.jpg?type=mq)
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]
.jpg?type=mq "Potential RR-KKR trades")
