Babar Azam Virat Kohli Archives

Babar, Kohli become only players to feature in all formats of ICC Team of the Year

KARACHI: India’s star batter Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam become the first two players in men’s cricket history to feature in all three ICC Teams of The Year (Test, ODI and T20I).

The incredible feat was first accomplished by India’s veteran Kohli on Monday after he was named in the ICC T20I Team of the Year for the first time.

The former Indian captain had already featured in ICC Test and ODI Teams of the Year numerous times.

Meanwhile, Babar, who had already featured in T20I and ODI Teams of the Year multiple times, joined Kohli on Tuesday after getting his name in the Test Team of the Year for the first time.

Notably, Babar was featured four times in the ICC ODI Team of the Year (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) while once each in the T20I (2021) and Test Team of the Year (2022).

Kohli, on the other hand, has thrice featured in ICC Test Team of The Year (2017, 2018, 2019), six times in ODI Team of The Year (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) and once in T20I Team (2022).

READ: Schutt, Perry sail Australia to convincing win against Pakistan in first T20I

Babar Azam breaks Virat Kohli’s yet another record

CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has added another feather to his cap as he completed 11,000 international runs across all formats in the least number of innings, overtaking India’s Virat Kohli to become the fastest Asian batter to reach the landmark.

Amid the sixth match of the ongoing T20I Tri-series between Pakistan and Bangladesh, Babar anchored the run chase with a magnificent knock of 55. The right-handed batter faced 40 deliveries and smashed nine boundaries.

His brilliant half-century in the run chase turned out to be a landmark knock as he became the fastest Asian batter to accumulate 11,000 international runs.

Babar achieved this feat in 251 innings, while Kohli completed 11,000 runs in 261.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan sank Bangladesh in a thriller by seven wickets with one ball to spare.

Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan, who top-scored for the side with 69 off 56, adjudged the player of the match for his anchoring knock.

READ: Sri Lanka Women edge past Pakistan in nail-biter to book final spot

‘Babar is the top batsman right now across formats’ says Virat Kohli

DUBAI: Former Indian captain Virat Kohli heaped praises on the top-ranked white ball batter Babar Azam and coined him the best batter in the world currently across all three formats of the game.

Virat, while featuring in the Star Sports’ Heart to Heart episode, lauded the Pakistani skipper Babar and recalled his first conversation with the top-ranked batter in limited overs cricket.

“The first talk with Babar Azam was after the 2019 World Cup, we sat down and talked a lot, he had a lot of respect that hasn’t changed even after doing so well in world cricket,” Virat stated.

The former Indian captain then termed Babar a ‘down-to-earth character’ and predicted the latter to succeed as a player before claiming to enjoy his batting.

“He is so down to earth character, he will go long way as a player. He is probably the top batsman right now across all formats. I have enjoyed watching him bat,” Virat concluded.

Earlier the two batters met on the sidelines of the teams’ training sessions for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022 and had a overwhelming moment.

Furthermore, the two cricketers displayed mutual respect in July this year when Babar came out in support of Virat with a motivating tweet, “This too shall pass. Stay strong” and received an overwhelming response from the cricket fans.

A number of speculations also began to arise about whether the Indian batter will respond to the Babar’s message. Virat, however, proved the speculations wrong and responded to Babar’s supportive tweet for him in a challenging phase of his career, while also wishing latter the luck.

“Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best,” Virat replied to Babar on his tweet.

It is pertinent to mention here that the 15th edition of the Asia Cup will embark on August 27 with the hosts Sri Lanka taking on Afghanistan in the curtain raiser. The most anticipated clash of the tournament between India and Pakistan, however, is scheduled for August 28.

READ: ‘First time in 10 years I didn’t touch my bat for a month’ claims Virat