Tag: Babar Azam

The excitement among the fans is evident as the highly anticipated match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, reigniting debates about two of modern cricket’s finest batters—Virat Kohli and Babar Azam.

Both players have been instrumental in their teams’ success over the past decade, consistently scoring runs and shouldering immense responsibility.

As the high-voltage encounter between Pakistan and India approaches, let’s compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam’s stats after 127 ODIs, along with their performances in the Champions Trophy.

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Babar Azam came under the microscope for his scratchy 64 off 90 balls in Pakistan’s 60-run loss to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli had an uncharacteristic outing against Bangladesh, scoring just 22 off 38 balls.

Lately, both batters have had demons while facing spin-bowling. Kohli has been dismissed by a leg-spinner in each of his last three ODI appearances, while Babar has struggled against spin bowlers over the past two years.

ODI Stats After 127 Matches – Kohli vs. Babar

Babar Azam’s recent form has been a topic of discussion, but his overall stats reinforce why he is regarded as Pakistan’s best batter.

In 127 ODI matches so far, he has amassed 6,083 runs at a remarkable average of 55.8, with a strike rate of 87.9. His tally includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

In comparison, at the 127-match mark, Virat Kohli had accumulated 5,355 runs at an average of 52.5 and a strike rate of 89.6, with 18 centuries and 29 fifties.

Babar Azam has maintained an even higher batting average at the same stage of his career, edging Kohli in centuries and overall runs. However, Kohli had a slightly better strike rate during this phase.

Kohli vs Babar: A Champions Trophy Comparison

Virat Kohli’s journey across four editions of the ICC Champions Trophy, from 2009 to 2025, has been remarkable.

Over 14 matches, he has amassed 551 runs at an outstanding average of 78.71, including five half-centuries. His highest score remains an unbeaten 96, and he has maintained an impressive strike rate of 90.18.

However, despite his consistency, the prolific batter is yet to register a century in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam is competing in his second Champions Trophy. He played a crucial role in Pakistan’s 2017 triumph and has since scored 197 runs in six matches at an average of 49.25.

His highest score is 64, with one half-century to his name. However, his strike rate of 73.50 is notably lower than Kohli’s.

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While Virat Kohli and Babar Azam both stand as modern-day greats, their careers have followed different trajectories. Kohli’s longevity and consistency across all formats have made him one of cricket’s finest, while Babar continues to carve out his legacy with remarkable performances.

As they prepare for yet another high-stakes battle, all eyes will be on how these two maestros handle the pressure and deliver on the grand stage.

READ: Pakistan likely to make one change for Champions Trophy clash against India: sources

DUBAI: Indian opening batter Shubman Gill has once again dethroned Pakistan star batter Babar Azam to claim the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s ODI Batting Rankings on Wednesday.

“India right-hander Shubman Gill overtakes former Pakistan captain Babar Azam to become the top-ranked ODI batter in the world,” ICC stated in a press release.

“It’s a major shake-up at the top of the rankings just prior to the start of the Champions Trophy and leaves an interesting sub-plot to what will transpire over the coming weeks during the eight-team tournament in Pakistan and Dubai.”

For the unversed, this is the second time Gill has gone past Babar to claim the top spot, having previously achieved the feat midway through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023.

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Babar Azam is now placed in second position in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings, 23 rating points behind the new No.1 batter, meanwhile, India skipper Rohit Sharma remains in the third spot.

Shubman Gill is the fourth Indian player to become the No. 1 ODI batter after Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell moved up two places to fifth and Sri Lankan batter Charith Asalanka jumped eight spots to eighth in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan achieved his career-best rating as he moved up six places to claim the 15th spot

READ: Ashwin names THIS player to surpass Babar Azam, Rizwan as Pakistan’s best batter

Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has issued a bold statement ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence tomorrow.

The right-handed batter played a crucial role in Pakistan’s historic 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, scoring a brisk 46 from 52 balls in the final against India, which helped his team secure a resounding 180 victory.

Babar, while in an exclusive chat with the International Cricket Council (ICC), emphasized that while the team has undergone changes since their 2017 triumph, their belief and confidence remained unchanged.

“A lot has changed since the Champions Trophy was held in 2017. We have new players coming, we only have three or four players who were part of that winning team. But the belief, confidence and execution is the same,” said Babar.

Refusing to dwell on the past, the batting maestro expressed his desire to make more memories in front of the adoring Pakistani public in the coming weeks.

“I am very excited. We are going to have an ICC tournament in Pakistan after a very long time. As a player, I am very excited; all the fans are excited, said the top-order batter.

He also reflected on the 2017 Champions Trophy final and his most memorable memories of the all-important encounter.

“My primary memories of the 2017 final are Fakhar Zaman’s innings (of 114), the spell of Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali’s spell, and the winning moment,” he said.

The 30-year-old also acknowledged the added responsibility as a senior player in the team and reiterated his commitment to performing for the team.

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“When you have responsibility as a senior player in any team and the team relies on you and has belief in you, then I take it in a positive way.”

“I try to give my best in every match. I try to perform so that Pakistan win and I enjoy my cricket,” he added.

While addressing Pakistan’s recent performances in the ICC events, including the T20 World Cup 2024, he stated that there is no pressure and that the team had learned from past mistakes.

“There is no pressure of anything. What has happened in the past is beyond us. We have discussed mistakes we have made and we have worked on them. So we will try not to do what we have done in the past,” Babar said.

He further highlighted the advantage of playing at home, emphasizing the familiarity with the conditions.

“When you play at home, you get that edge as you know the conditions; you know how the pitch will behave, both in the first and second (innings), but still, you have to play good cricket because all other teams are among the best,” said Babar.

Furthermore, Babar Azam expressed his excitement about hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, a global cricketing event after many years.

“It means a lot to be hosting the competition. The hospitality here in Pakistan is great, and people love cricket here.”

“Cricket puts everyone in one place. It unites everyone and the whole of Pakistan is busy praying that Pakistan wins. Everyone is united in that,” concluded Babar.

READ: Azhar Ali blames ‘can’t play them’ hashtag for Pakistani fast bowlers downfall

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has revealed the batting position of the star batter Babar Azam ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence tomorrow.

Babar, who has been Pakistan’s mainstay at the number three position, was promoted to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

However, his performance in this new role has been disappointing, as he returned with scores of 10, 23, and 29, sparking discussions about the decision to move him to the opening spot.

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While speaking at the pre-tournament press conference, Mohammad Rizwan confirmed that Babar Azam would continue in his new role as an opener.

“It’s not that we don’t have options; we do have. But if you look at the conditions, Babar is the right man to open,” said Rizwan.

“We are not sure about reports of Babar not opening the batting. We want genuine openers, but given the current needs of the team, we thought that Babar should open as he is a technically strong batter. He is our opener,” he said.

He further shed light on the ace pacer Haris Rauf’s availability for the opening match of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand.

“Haris Rauf bowled 80% yesterday, and now he is bowling in full rhythm. He is fit and available for the team,” Rizwan stated.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19.

They will then travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan provides update on Haris Rauf’s availability

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has questioned the elevation of Babar Azam as an opener after his run drought ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has yet to score an ODI century since his mammoth 151 against Nepal, is recently going through a rough patch after a string of low scores.

After his promotion as an opener, the right-handed batter returned with scores of  10, 23, and 29 in the recently concluded tri-nation series featuring New Zealand and South Africa.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Shehzad questioned his role as an opener after poor form.

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“And now he has been promoted from number three to an opener, which should not have been done because he has not scored many runs recently. If his confidence was high, then such an experiment might have worked,” said the top-order batter.

“Recently, Babar’s form is not that good, and yet you are changing his batting position, which, in my opinion, is unjust, said Shehzad.

Ahmed Shehzad suggested that Babar should bat at the No.3 position in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing his previous performances in the above mentioned position.

“I personally believe that ODI is the most-suited format for Babar Azam because his game is natural in this format and he does not need to improvise much.”

“So, over the years, it has suited him well, especially at the number three position,” said Shehzad.

He also said the ODI format has undergone a significant overhaul in a decade. Since our team lost wickets at the top, Babar was the mainstay at number three, and he used to stabilize the innings.

“Although ODI cricket has evolved over the years since we lose wickets at the top, Babar, at number three, used to stabilize the innings, which was his role,” said the right-handed batter.

READ: ‘I want to play alongside my son’ Mohammad Nabi hints at U-turn on ODI retirement

Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has raised doubts over Pakistan star batter Babar Azam and his status as the country’s best batter heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has been Pakistan’s mainstay at the number three position, was promoted to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

However, his performance in this new role has been disappointing, as he returned with scores of 10, 23, and 29, sparking discussions about the decision to move him to the opening spot.

Harbhajan Singh, in a video on his YouTube channel, criticised Pakistan’s batting line-up, highlighting their recent forms. He took a dig at Babar while mentioning his below-par average against India.

“Their star batter is Babar Azam. His average against India is 31. If you are a top batter, I believe you should have an average close to 50, which he doesn’t have,” he stated.

The former Indian spinner lavished praise on Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, noting his remarkable positivity and free-spirited style of play.

However, he pointed out Rizwan’s struggle against India, revealing that his average dips to 25 in encounters with the arch-rivals.

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“Then, there is Rizwan. I like him as a player. He is a man with a positive attitude and plays freely. But his average against India is 25,” he added.

He then turned his attention to Fakhar Zaman, the sole full-time opener for Pakistan, emphasizing his formidable batting prowess.

“Fakhar Zaman, their only full-time opener, has an average of 46. It’s a good average. Fakhar can take the game away from India,” the former spinner said.

Harbhajan Singh then assessed the rest of Pakistan’s batting lineup, highlighting their averages against India, suggesting that, despite some talent, none of them appeared to pose a significant threat.

“Right now, if we look at Faheem Ashraf, his average is 12.5. I don’t think he can pose a threat to the opposing team,” he further added.

“And Saud Shakeel’s average against India is 6. So, with such averages, when I look at the batting lineup, I don’t have the confidence that this team will win.”

READ: Champions Trophy: Harbhajan Singh issues bold statement about Pakistan-India clash

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has opened up the decision to promote star batter Babar Azam to play as an opener ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has been Pakistan’s mainstay at the number three position, was promoted to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

However, his performance in this new role has been disappointing, as he returned with scores of 10, 23, and 29, sparking discussions about the decision to move him to the opening spot.

Mohammad Amir, during a recent interview, expressed his disappointment with the decision, highlighting Babar’s ability to build the innings from the number three position.

“As I’ve said before, if I don’t get to bowl with the new ball, I can’t fully utilize my strength,” Amir stated.

“Similarly, Babar’s strength is at No. 3, where he knows how to construct an innings. The role of an opener in ODIs and Tests is completely different from T20s.”

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The left-arm pacer further acknowledged the importance of clearly defined batting roles in the longer formats, explaining how the mindset and approach differ between formats.

“An opener has to adapt in phases. In the first 10 overs, you need to take chances. The next 10 overs are about building a partnership,” he said.

“Babar is a top player, no doubt, but I believe No. 3 is where he belongs. When you’re struggling, you try different things, but sometimes it’s best to stick to what works.”

Previously, former cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Basit Ali have also echoed similar sentiments, raising questions about changing Babar Azam’s batting position.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

READ: Former cricketer slams decision to play Babar Azam as opener

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the decision to promote star batter Babar Azam to play as an opener ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

His comments came in the wake of Pakistan’s thumping five-wicket loss in the tri-nation ODI series final against New Zealand at the newly renovated National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

Basit Ali, while speaking on his YouTube channel, stated that winning the tri-nation would have boosted the confidence of the squad going into the mega-event.

“If Pakistan had won the tri-nation series, the confidence level of every player would have been high,” he said.

“Winning this tri-nation series could have boosted morale. Now, what will be your confidence level? Cricket is a game of confidence, and if that is shaken, you are left behind.”

The former batter then criticised the decision to open the innings with Babar, despite the right-hander’s exceptional record at number three.

“Who advised Babar Azam to open the innings? I am surprised by this decision,” Basit questioned.

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“What kind of thinking is this? He was performing well at number three, scoring 50-70 runs against South Africa, but they changed his position.

“Now, just 62 runs in three matches in the tri-series. This is the approach and mindset of the management.”

Basit Ali also opened up on the comparison of Babar Azam with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

“They say even Sachin opened the innings and scored a century in his first match in Sri Lanka. But you removed Babar from No. 3, where he was excelling, and now you’ve destroyed his rhythm,” he said.

For the unversed, Babar’s performance in this new role has been underwhelming, with low scores of 10, 23 and 29 in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

The defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

READ: ‘Mind-boggling decision,’ Pakistan cricketer questions Faheem’s selection over Hasnain

Mohammad Hafeez, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has stated his opinion regarding the batting position of Babar Azam for the forth-coming Champions Trophy 2025.

Hafeez believes that Babar should return to his usual No. 3 spot in the batting order in the upcoming tournament.

This suggestion comes after Babar was recently moved to open the innings in the tri-nation series due to an injury to Saim Ayub.

However, his performance in this new role has been underwhelming, with low scores of  10, 23 and 29 in the recently concluded tri-series matches.

For the unversed, Babar has been the mainstay for Pakistan for several years in the ODI format, scoring the bulk of runs.

However, his last One Day International century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup. It is pertinent to note here that the star batter opened the batting last in 2015, the same year he made his ODI debut.

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In his two outings as an opener that year, he scored 4 and 22 runs, respectively.

Babar Azam primarily plays at No. 3, a batting position where he has amassed 5,957 runs in 123 ODIs at an average of 56, with 19 centuries and 23 fifties.

Mohammad Hafeez feels that Pakistan has other capable openers who could partner with Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy.

In a post on X, Hafeez suggested either of Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq or Abdullah Shafique to open the inning with Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Hafeez emphasized that moving Azam back to No. 3 would “make things easier for everyone” and optimize the team’s batting lineup for the crucial tournament.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Usman Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: ‘A big innings is coming’ Aqib Javed backs Babar Azam ahead of Champions Trophy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s interim head coach has backed star batter Babar Azam as an opener on Friday, despite his rough patch ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting next week.

Aqib, in a post-match press conference after New Zealand defeated Pakistan in the tri-nation series final, addressed the concerns regarding Babar’s elevation as an opener.

It is pertinent to mention here that Babar has been the mainstay for Pakistan for several years in the ODI format, scoring the bulk of runs.

His last One Day International century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup, while he has struggled in the recently concluded tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand.

The head coach was confident that the right-handed batter was due for a big innings, especially in an important match for us.

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“Babar has gotten good starts, but he needs to go deeper. He has an important innings due and I expect him to score in an important match for us,” said Aqib.

Aqib Javed also explained the rationale behind Star Batter’s promotion as an opener.

“The idea behind Babar’s promotion as an opener is that if you look at the away series against South Africa, he had to bat in the first over in all games.”

“Then Saim got injured and he had to open in Tests too. These pitches don’t have that kind of bounce and seam movement that could trouble the batters at the start. We wanted our best batter to make good use of the powerplay, that suits us more,” explained Aqib.

Aqib Javed described this squad as the best they have and expressed confidence in winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“These bunch of players can do well in the upcoming tournament. You can score 350 if this team bats normally and goes down to number eight,” he said.

He further stated that this team has the capability to defeat any opposition.

“This lineup has everything it needs to beat any team,” remarked Pakistan’s head coach.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens thrash Afghanistan in Champions Trophy warm-up