• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Shoaib Akhtar On Similarities Between Virat Kohli And Babar Azam

Shoaib Akhtar on similarities between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam

image-l8izn2fgBabar Azam (PC: Twitter)

Over the last couple of years, parallels have been drawn between Pakistan's batting sensation Babar Azam and former India skipper Virat Kohli. 

While Kohli indisputably has an upper hand over Azam in almost all three formats due to his experience, the Pakistan skipper has established himself as one of the finest batters across the globe. 

The Pakistan swashbuckling opener failed to make a mark in the latest edition of Asia Cup 2022, having managed to score just 68 runs in six matches in the continental tournament. 

Babar Azam, however, bounced back stronger and scored a sensational T20I hundred in the second T20I against England at Karachi. 

Azam stitched a record-breaking 203-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan at the top of the order to help the hosts register a thumping 10 wickets victory.

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar meanwhile lavished praise on the Pakistan captain for his batting heroics and went on to compare his approach of chasing humongous targets to that of batting maestro Virat Kohli. 

Shoaib Akhtar on his YouTube channel said:

"Hats off to the chase. The chasing template, at one point, was Virat Kohli's great characteristic. Babar has replicated it and shown it. Babar's class is far better than anyone else in this world. His elegance and shot selection are all class and if his strike rate goes above 150-160, then he becomes something else. And when he does that, Pakistan wins games." 

Shoaib Akhtar Emphasised on the Importance of Strike Rate 

The former Pakistan fast bowler further pointed out the importance of the strike rate in the shortest format of the game and stated that Babar should keep scoring runs at a healthy rate to make sure there is no pressure on his opening deputy at the top of the order.

"This is what Pakistan requires. The run rate and the strike rate. Our openers, especially Babar Azam, have shown why he is the No. 1 player in the world. When he scores at a good strike rate, it becomes easier for Rizwan. They complement each other. But again, I keep stressing about the strike rate because it's very important." 

Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been at the centre of stern criticism lately due to their low strike rates in T20Is. However, the duo answered all criticism by scoring runs at a brisk rate in the 2nd T20I against England.

While the Pakistan skipper scored 110 not out off 66 balls, Rizwan remained unbeaten on 88 from 51 balls to guide the hosts to a 10-wicket win against England in the second T20I of the seven-match series.  

ALSO READ: Babar Azam reviews team's batting performance in the fourth T20I