When King Kohli 'Hailed' Babar Azam as the 'Best Batter in the World'
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam [Twitter]
The admiration for Pakistan's cricketing sensation, Babar Azam, extends beyond borders, with none other than the Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket icon, hailing him as "probably the top batsman in the world."
In an interview last year with Star Sports, Virat Kohli shared insights into his meeting with Babar Azam following the India vs Pakistan match in the 2019 World Cup. Imad Wasim, the Pakistani all-rounder, facilitated the encounter. Kohli highlighted the respect and regard he observed in Babar right from the outset, a sentiment that has endured over time. He emphasized Babar's position as a top-tier batsman across formats.
Babar’s position as possibly the world’s finest batsman -Virat Kohli
“I vividly remember our first interaction. It was during the 2019 ODI World Cup after a game in Manchester. Imad [Wasim], whom I’ve known since the Under-19 World Cup, told me that Babar wanted to chat,” said Kohli.
“As we sat down, we discussed the game, and right from the start, I could sense the respect and admiration he held. This respect has remained unchanged. Babar’s position as possibly the world’s finest batsman across all formats is well-deserved. His consistent performances on the field have always been a delight for me to watch,” Kohli futher added.
Babar Azam currently holds the distinction of being the top-ranked batter in the ICC Men's ODI Batting Rankings, boasting an impressive total of 886 points. A significant gap separates Babar from Kohli. However, Kohli aims to bridge that gap through stellar performances in events like the Asia Cup 2023, India vs Australia clashes, and the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. As of now, Kohli stands ninth in the ODI Batting rankings with 705 points.
Remarkably, Babar also occupies the third spot in T20I cricket and the fourth in Test cricket, a testament to his versatility and prowess as the only player to feature within the top five across all three formats.
 "Rajgeeta")
