Is Babar Azam better than KL Rahul in Test cricket? Stats reveal shocking fact

KL Rahul and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]

KL Rahul had a stellar start to the Test series against West Indies, slamming a magnificent century in the first match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Opening the batting for India, KL Rahul struck a glorious hundred, setting the foundation for a massive total for the home side. 

Interestingly, KL Rahul has more Test centuries (11) than Pakistani superstar Babar Azam (9). But is he already a better Test batter than Babar Azam? Here's what the stats say. 

KL Rahul vs Babar Azam overall stats comparison in Tests

Observation and inference

Babar Azam has scored more runs than KL Rahul despite playing less number of innings. This indicates that the Pakistani batter has been more consistent than his Indian counterpart in the purest format. Babar's average of 42.78 as compared to 36 by Rahul also verifies the claim. Although Rahul has slammed ten centuries at a better conversion rate (33.34), Babar has recorded more number of fifties than his Indian competitor. 

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KL Rahul vs Babar Azam performance comparison in home and away Tests

Observation: KL makes the most of his starts, Babar has been more consistent

The aforementioned stats suggest that both KL Rahul and Babar Azam have played the same number of innings on home soil, with the latter recording better numbers than the former. Additionally, Babar Azam has been more consistent in Pakistan than KL Rahul in India, averaging 52.74 in home Tests. 

On the other hand, KL Rahul, hailed highly for his stoic technique, has scored 2640 runs across 79 innings in away Tests, while Babar has just 40 runs less than his tally in 75 outings. KL Rahul's conversion rate of 50 suggests that he generally gets into the three-figure mark upon getting set in alien conditions. On the other hand, Babar has oozed consistency with the bat, registering 25 scores of fifty or more in 75 innings. 

The contrasting states of KL Rahul and Babar Azam

While Babar Azam currently has better Test numbers than KL Rahul, we might witness a dramatic turnaround, considering the recent form of both these batters. While KL Rahul has been fantastic in Tests since the start of 2023, the case has been exactly opposite for Babar Azam. 

(KL Rahul and Babar Azam in Tests since 2023)

Observation and inference

As evidenced by the above stats, KL Rahul is on a rise while Babar Azam is searching for form in Test cricket of late. While Rahul has been remarkably consistent, scoring ten fifty-plus scores across 34 innings, Babar has managed only three fifties in the same period. The Pakistani superstar has been in and out of the side due to poor form and the upcoming South Africa series could be a do-or-die assignment for him to keep his place safe in the team. 

Conclusion

Despite a three-year lean patch, Babar Azam is still statistically better than KL Rahul in Test cricket. However, considering the Indian batter has attained peak form, he is on the right track to surpass the legacy of his Pakistani counterpart in the format very soon. 

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