A brief introduction to both players
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam often find themselves bracketed together because they are considered the finest cricketers of their generation for those two great cricketing nations, India and Pakistan. Both have an aggressive batting manner, and both have engendered fierce debate among fans regarding their leadership style. Their batting statistics also invite fair comparison.
However, Kohli has the edge in playing for a team that has enjoyed great success during his time with them. They won the World Cup 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013 and 2025. They also won the T20 World Cup in 2024, have lifted the Asian Cup three times, and have been beaten finalists twice in the World Test Championship.
Babar Azam’s solitary international trophy win was the Champions Trophy in 2017. Cricket is a team game, and Kohli has been fortunate to have played his international career surrounded by talented players. Babar, by contrast, sometimes has been expected to carry his side by himself, a responsibility he has not always enjoyed. However, he took Pakistan to a number one ODI ranking, the only captain of his national side to have managed that.
Their rise in international cricket
Virat Kohli was born in Delhi in 1988. He showed an early affinity for cricket, asking his father to bowl for him from age three. At the suggestion of neighbours, he was enrolled in a professional academy and then began to play under-15 cricket in the Delhi area. The premature death of his father saw him begin to take his cricket career more seriously, and he began to progress through the ranks.
Selected by India for their under-19 tour of India, his performances earned him rave reviews, and the following year, he led them to victory in the under-19 World Cup. Senior recognition soon followed, and he was chosen to play for India in their ODI tour of Sri Lanka in 2008 at 19. However, he had to wait another two years for his first T20I cap, whilst his test debut was not until 2011.
Born in 1994 into a cricketing family, Babar Azam was inspired to take up cricket by his cousins, who also played the game. Initially, he was a ball boy at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore before joining the academy. Making rapid progress, he was part of the Pakistan under-19 set-up and made his international debut for Pakistan in an ODI against Zimbabwe in May 2015. The following year, he first appeared in Test and T20I cricket.
Why the comparison is relevant
The comparison between the two is relevant because both have similar styles, are regarded as the star players by the fans, and are the highest-paid players in their respective countries. They are also considered bellwethers for their national teams’ performances and are often chosen as scapegoats when things go wrong. This is particularly true of Azam, who has frequently found himself on the wrong end of Pakistan cricket’s frequent infighting and bouts of bloodletting.
Impact on India-Pakistan cricket rivalry
Comparisons between the two also stoke the rivalry between India and Pakistan, one of the fiercest in international sport. This rivalry has become imbued with the bitterness engendered by the poor diplomatic and political relations between the two West Asian neighbours in recent years.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Overall Stats Comparison (ODI, T20, Test)
Test Cricket
Virat Kohli | Babar Azam | |
Matches | 123 | 59 |
Runs | 9,230 | 4,235 |
Average | 46.85 | 42.77 |
Hundreds/Fifties | 30/31 | 9/29 |
Highest score | 254 not out | 254 not out |
ODI Cricket
Virat Kohli | Babar Azam | |
Matches | 302 | 128 |
Runs | 14,181 | 6,106 |
Average | 57.88 | 55.50 |
Hundreds/Fifties | 51/74 | 19/35 |
Highest score | 183 | 158 |
T20I Cricket
Virat Kohli* | Babar Azam | |
Matches | 125 | 128 |
Runs | 4,188 | 4.223 |
Average | 48.69 | 39.83 |
Hundreds/Fifties | 1/38 | 3/36 |
Highest score | 122 not out | 122 |
Kohli retired from T20I cricket after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in Test Cricket: Who Dominates the Longer Format?
Direct comparisons regarding test cricket are difficult because Pakistan plays less test cricket than India because the format is less popular in that country. However, their statistics, when measured pro-rata, suggest there is little to choose between. And while Babar may still have some of his best years ahead of him, Kolhi’s performances over the last year suggest he is now looking in the rear-view mirror. Age has caught up with him; he is half a yard slower, and his reactions are not at his former level.
Batting Records in Test Cricket (Head-to-head stats, averages, centuries, consistency)
Virat Kohli has played in 123 tests for India since debuting in 2011 against the West Indies. He has since scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85 and a strike rate of 55.57. That includes 30 hundreds and a further 31 fifties. However, there have been recent signs that he has declined, with an increased tendency to waft at deliveries outside his off stump. He endured a problematic Gavaskar-Border series in Australia. Although he made an unbeaten century in the second innings in the First Test in Perth, he struggled after that, and there are suggestions that he will not form part of the squad the next time India play test cricket, which is when they travel to England in the summer.
Babar Azam has played in 59 tests so far for Pakistan and has managed 4,235 runs in 108 innings at an average of 42.77 and a strike rate of 54.37. He has 9 test centuries to his name and a further 29 fifties.
Performance Against Top Test Teams (Stats vs Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand)
Virat Kohli’s Test Performance:
- Against Australia: Kohli has played 30 Tests, scoring 2,232 runs at an average of 43.76, including 9 centuries and 5 fifties.
- Against England: In 28 Tests, he amassed 1,991 runs with an average of 42.36, registering 5 centuries and 9 fifties.
- Against South Africa: Over 16 Tests, Kohli scored 1,408 runs at an average of 54.15, with 3 centuries and 5 fifties.
- Against New Zealand: In 14 Tests, he accumulated 959 runs, averaging 38.36, with 3 centuries and 4 fifties.
Babar Azam’s Test Performance:
- Against Australia: Babar has participated in 16 innings, scoring 404 runs.
- Against England: In 6 innings, he has accumulated 263 runs.
- Against South Africa: Over 10 innings, Babar has scored 414 runs.
- Against New Zealand: In 4 innings, he has made 142 runs.
These figures indicate that Virat Kohli has a substantial body of work and consistent performance against these top Test nations, highlighted by multiple centuries and solid averages. Babar Azam, while showing promise, has had fewer opportunities and comparatively modest returns against these teams. It’s noteworthy that Babar has scored just one Test century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries, achieved against Australia in 2019.
In summary, Kohli’s extensive experience and proven track record against leading Test sides underscore his dominance in the longer format. Babar, though talented, is still in the process of building a comparable record against these top-tier teams.
Who Performs Better in SENA Conditions? (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia
As the following tables suggest, although Virat Kohli has the best statistics in all formats of cricket, Babar Azam often finds his best form when playing against SENA countries.
Virat Kohli
Tests
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 53 | 2,232 | 43.76 |
England | 50 | 1,991 | 42.36 |
New Zealand | 27 | 959 | 38.36 |
South Africa | 28 | 1,408 | 54.15 |
ODIs
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 48 | 2,451 | 54.56 |
England | 38 | 1,397 | 41.08 |
New Zealand | 33 | 1,657 | 55.23 |
South Africa | 29 | 1,504 | 65.39 |
T20is
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 22 | 794 | 49.62 |
England | 21 | 648 | 38.11 |
New Zealand | 10 | 311 | 34.56 |
South Africa | 13 | 394 | 39.40 |
Babar Azam
Tests
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 25 | 925 | 38.54 |
England | 14 | 646 | 53.83 |
New Zealand | 13 | 635 | 57.72 |
South Africa | 14 | 536 | 38.28 |
ODIs
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 13 | 686 | 68.60 |
England | 20 | 854 | 47.44 |
New Zealand | 23 | 1,009 | 48.04 |
South Africa | 15 | 744 | 57.23 |
T20is
SENA Country | Innings | Runs | Average |
Australia | 11 | 430 | 47.77 |
England | 17 | 660 | 47.14 |
New Zealand | 24 | 880 | 41.90 |
South Africa | 13 | 447 | 34.38 |
Conversion Rate – Who Converts Fifties to Hundreds? (A deep dive into their efficiency as batsmen)
In terms of all forms of cricket, Virat Kohli ranks 17th on the all-time list in terms of conversion rate, with 49.18%. That is below the best, which was set by the legendary Australian Don Bradman, who only ever played test cricket and finished with a conversion rate of 69.05%.
Babar Azam is not among the top 70 players.
Similarly, Virat Kohli is 17th on the all-time list of test players when converting fifties into hundreds, with a ratio of 49.18%. Yet again, Babar does not appear among the top-ranked players.
In terms of ODI cricket, when measuring players who have scored at least 2,000 runs in the format, Kohli ranks as the fourth best of all-time, with Calum Macleod of Scotland and the South African duo of Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla ahead of him. His conversion rate is 40.8% once he has reached a half-century. Babar Azam currently ranks 18th. His conversion rate in ODI cricket is 35.19%
One area where Babar can claim superiority over Kohli is in T20I cricket. In his T20I career, Kohli only ever made one T20I century, whereas Babar has managed it three times so far, and he has the potential to add more to that total.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ODIs: Who is More Consistent?
Whilst there is not much difference between their ODI averages and strike rates, it would be hard to argue that Kohli is not the more consistent ODI player, as evidenced by the number of times he has gone on to make a century in the format. Kohli is also regarded as the finest run chaser in the format.
ODI Stats Comparison Over the Years
Virat Kohli has played in 302 ODIs for India and has scored 14,181 runs in the format, making him third in the all-time list behind Kumar Sangakkara and Sachin Tendulkar. However, he has surpassed Tendulkar for the most ODI centuries ever, with 51 to his name, and he has also passed 50 on 74 other occasions. He has scored his runs at an average of 57.88 and a strike rate of 93.34.
Babar Azam has played 125 ODI innings for Pakistan, during which time he has scored 6,106 runs at an average of 55.50 and a strike rate of 87.91. To date, he has 19 ODI centuries to his name and has also reached 50 on 33 occasions.
Best Innings in ODIs: Who Delivered in High-Pressure Matches?
Virat Kohli has played many valuable ODI innings, but one of his best, especially given the opposition, came under lights against Australia in Visakhapatnam in 2014. After Australia were put into bat, India found themselves chasing a big total and were in trouble when Kohli came out to the middle. He stabilised the situation in a typical fashion and then began accelerating the scoring rate, with Yuvraj Singh offering valuable support. Kohli completed his century before cramp got the better of him, and he fell for 118. He had more than done his job for the team, though, as they went on to win comfortably.
Babar Azam’s best ODI innings came in an away series against South Africa soon after he had been made captain. In the series opener, the home side made 273/6, and the loss of an early wicket and tight bowling saw them fall behind the required run rate. However, combining with Imam-ul-Haq, Azam steadied the innings, and as the pitch became easier, the runs began to flow. He made 103 from 104 balls, including 17 fours and was named Player of the Match as his side eventually won.
Who is the Better Chase Master? (Kohli’s chase records vs Babar’s chase records)
Kohli is widely regarded as the best run-chaser in ODI history. One of his nicknames is the “Chase Master,” which is borne out by the statistics. Over a minimum of 50 innings, he averages 64.5 runs with the bat for India when batting second, which is 7.69 more than the next man on the list, AB de Villiers of South Africa. Kohli has a unique ability to manage the tempo of an innings, taking singles to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard moving in the middle overs of an innings, never letting the required run rate grow to unmanageable proportions. Azam’s figures are more modest, and he tends to get out just when he is set, which is why his century conversion rate is also lower.
The Indian also had the better record chasing in T20 cricket before his retirement from the format. He scored 1,759 runs in 37 innings at an average of 83.76, whereas Azam’s figures were 872 runs from 23 innings at an average of 45.89.
ODI Centuries and Milestones (Who achieves milestones faster?)
Kohli has scored more ODI centuries than any other player in history – his 51 is two more than the legendary Sachin Tendulkar achieved in his career. Azam is tied with Brian Lara and Mahela Jayawardene in 17th place currently. Although time is on Babar’s side – he is six years younger than Kohli – it is difficult to envisage him overtaking his opponent’s record, especially as Kohli has indicated he may continue playing ODI cricket until the 2027 World Cup.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in T20Is: Who is the Ultimate T20 King?
Statistically, Kohli had the best record in T20I cricket, apart from one key metric.
Overall T20I Stats & Records Comparison
Virat Kohli played in 125 T20Is for India between 2010 and 2024, during which time he scored 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. He managed one century in the format and 38 fifties. He retired after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam has played in 128 T20Is for Pakistan currently. He has scored 4,223 runs for them at an average of 39.83 and a strike rate of 129.22. He has reached three figures three times in the format and has 36 fifties to his name.
IPL vs PSL – Who Performs Better in Franchise Cricket?
Both players are the highest run scorers in their domestic franchise leagues. Kohli, who has played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the inception of the IPL in 20008, is the first player in the competition’s history to have breached the 8,000-run mark. He also holds the record for the most centuries and fifties, and the 973 runs that he scored in 2016 are a single-season record for any player.
Babar Azam, meanwhile, has scored 3,504 runs for his three PSL franchises, which is almost 1000 more than his nearest challenger, Fakhar Zaman.
However, whilst Kohli has yet to win the Indian Premier League, Azam has won the PSL twice, once with Islamabad United and the other time with the Karachi Kings.
It should also be noted that, whereas Kohli has not been able to play franchise cricket abroad because of the BCCI policy preventing active Indian players from availing themselves of such opportunities, Azam has not suffered from such restrictions. He played one season in the Caribbean Premier League with the Guyana Amazon Warriors. He has been featured in the Bangladesh Premier League for the Sylhet Sixers and the Rangpur Raiders.
Strike Rate vs Consistency – Who Suits T20 Format More?
The statistics suggest that Kohli was more suited to T20I cricket. He finished his career with a better average—48.69 cf. 39.83—and strike rate—137.04 cf. 129.92—than Babar. However, Pakistan has the edge in its conversion rate of fifties into hundreds. Only once did Kohli reach three figures in the format, whereas Babar has achieved that three times in his career.
T20 World Cup Records: T20 World Cup Records: Who Shines on the Biggest Stage?
Kohli was part of the India team that won the T20 World Cup in 2024 and finished runners-up under his leadership in 2014. He was named Player of the Series in that tournament and received the award two years later. The closest Pakistan came to World Cup success was in 2022, when they reached the final in Australia with Babar as skipper, only to lose to England.
Kohli retired as the highest run scorer in T20 World Cup history; He scored 1,292 runs in 33 innings at an average of 58.72 (also a record). Kohli also leads the way in scores of 50 plus in the tournament, with 15 to his name.
The 319 runs he scored in 2014 is the highest by any player in a single tournament. Babar Azam’s 303 runs in 2021 earned him third place on the all-time list.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam Captaincy: Who is the Better Leader?
Kohli’s time in charge of India was characterised by an aggressive front-foot approach and a determination to win. Those who played under him were expected to express themselves, mirroring his own batting. With him placing great emphasis on fitness, the team became more dynamic in the field, and he became known for his frequent tactical adjustments. Under Kohli, India became arguably the fittest side in world cricket, both physically and mentally.
However, his unwillingness to back down and his frequent arguments with umpires and match officials made him a divisive figure, and there were occasional disciplinary issues. Some players, like Rishabh Pant, blossomed under his captaincy, but others found the high-pressure environment in the Indian team inhibited them.
Babar Azam has a reputation as somebody who would analyse games and opponents in a way to find a winning edge. Eager to learn, he was known for his cool and calm demeanour on the field, but his tenure on the job saw him and the team under immense pressure. Under him, the team became known for frequently collapsing in high-pressure situations, highlighting weaknesses in team strategy and mental toughness. And the pressure of leading Pakistan affected his batting and strained his mental and physical health.
To add to his burdens, there were also reports of disagreements and a failure to align with the Pakistan selectors, further undermining his leadership position. That was evidenced by his treatment after the 2023 World Cup: he was sacked, reinstated, and fired again after another disappointment at the next major tournament, the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The evidence is that Kohli was the better leader, and Azam did not even enjoy the role.
Test Captaincy – Records & Achievements
Virat Kohli captained India in 68 tests, winning 40 and losing 18. His win percentage of 58.82% made him the most successful Indian test captain of all time. Under his leadership, India won a test series in Australia for the first time. It also reached the inaugural World Test Championship final, only to lose to New Zealand at Southampton in 2021.
Babar Azam led Pakistan in 13 tests, winning eight of them and six away from home (it should be noted that countries’ refusal to tour Pakistan meant they were forced to play their home matches in the Middle East for years). His win rate was 61.53%. Although he lost a home series to Australia, he recorded his highest individual score in test cricket in one of those matches, an unbeaten 196 in Karachi.
ODI Captaincy – Win Percentage & Key Stats
Virat Kohli’s record as ODI captain was even better than his time leading the test team. He took charge in 95 matches and won 65 of them, giving him a win rate of 68.42%. As ODI captain, he scored 21 centuries, the second-highest of any international skipper behind Ricky Ponting of Australia. He also had the highest ODI average of any player as captain. However, India missed out on major success in terms of international silverware during his time in charge. They reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup but were knocked out by eventual winners, England.
Babar Azam led Pakistan in 18 ODIs, winning 12; his win rate was 66.67%. Arguably, the highlight of his time in charge came in 2022, when Australia visited Pakistan and played a three-match series. Although they lost the first match, they bounced back to win the next two. However, he was made a scapegoat for the team’s poor performances at the 2023 World Cup in India and was stripped of the captaincy in the aftermath.
T20 Captaincy – Leadership Under Pressure
Kohli also captained India in 50 T20Is, winning 30 of them. No player has scored more runs as T20I captain for their country, although again, major international silverware eluded him in the role. India was knocked out in the Super 12 stage of the 2021 T20 World Cup, and Kohli gave up the role immediately afterwards.
Babar was Pakistan’s most successful T20I captain, winning 37 out of the 62 matches in which he led the team and finishing with a winning rate of 64.91%. He led them into the 2021 T20 World Cup, where they reached the semi-finals. A year later, they went one better and reached the final, only to lose to England.
He lost the captaincy after the 2023 World Cup but was reinstated in the role and took charge of the side that went to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean. A shock defeat in their opening match against the Americans and another loss to India in New York condemned them to an early exit from the tournament, and Babar was sacked again.
Captaincy in IPL vs PSL – Tactical Brilliance?
Comparisons between the IPL and PSL can be misleading—arguably, the IPL is the much harder league to win because of the calibre of players who play in it, especially from overseas.
Virat Kohli captained the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) between 2011 and 2023, leading the side in 143 matches. They won 66 of those games and lost 70, with three tied and four producing no result. Despite that, they never won the IPL in that time – and still have not – the closest they came was in 2016 when they reached the final, only to lose to the Sunrisers Hyderabad. That was also the year that Kohli won the Orange Cap awarded to the highest run-scorer in the tournament, scoring 973 runs, a total that has never been bettered.
During his time as captain, the team became known for being unbalanced, full of runs but less strong when it came to bowling, particularly with regard to their pace options. Kohli was also criticised for his frequent changes of field position.
Babar Azam played one season in the Pakistan Super League with Islamabad United and was part of the team that won the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2016. He then joined the Karachi Kings and led them to the title in 2020. Before the 2023 season, he was traded to Peshawar Zalmi and appointed skipper; he has since led them in 22 matches, winning 11 and losing 11. Recent indications are that he does not want to lead them into the 2025 season, concerned that the added responsibility has detracted from his batting.
Suggestions that he had prioritised his own needs over those of the team surfaced after he was traded by the Kings. President Wasim Akram noted that he insisted on playing as an opener despite being requested to drop down to number three on numerous occasions.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Records in Multi-Nation Tournaments
Performance in ICC World Cups (ODI + T20)
Performance in Asia Cup (Who has delivered more impactful knocks?)
India is the most successful team in the history of the Asia Cup, and Kohli has won three gold medals. Pakistan has yet to enjoy success with Babar on the team, although they were the beaten finalists in 2022.
Performance in Champions Trophy (Babar’s 2017 CT win vs Kohli’s CT performances)
Virat Kohli played in three Champions Trophies, winning it twice with India in 2013 and again in 2025. In 2013, he scored 176 runs, was the fifth-highest run-scorer, and was named in the Team of the Tournament. Four years later, he again finished as the fifth-highest run scorer and was named in the ICC team of the tournament, both of which feats he repeated in 2025.
Although Pakistan won the tournament in 2017, Babar Azam managed just 175 runs in his five matches. He and the rest of Pakistan want to quickly forget what happened in 2025, as they were eliminated at the competition’s group stage.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Beyond Cricket (Fitness, Popularity, Influence)
Virat Kohli Height, Weight & Fitness Regimen
Virat Kohli is 5 feet 9 inches tall (175 cm) and weighs 69 kg. He is a fitness fanatic. He normally trains six days a week and follows a gym-based approach that concentrates on different parts of his physique. His regime incorporates a good deal of resistance training as well as lifting weights. His discipline extends into his diet, which is a mix of lean protein, healthy fats, and carbs. He prefers home-cooked meals to eating out.
Babar Azam’s Fitness & Training Routine
Babar Azam is 5 feet 11 inches tall (180 cm) and weighs 75 kg. His fitness regime is based on flexibility, muscle mass, strength, and conditioning and involves cardiovascular activities like running and swimming combined with intensive gym sessions. He also ensures that he follows a balanced diet with the right mix of proteins and carbohydrates.
Who Has a Bigger Fanbase? (Social media following, endorsements)
Virat Kohli is one of the most popular athletes globally, with an estimated following on social media of over 383 million. In 2024, he became the first Indian to have over 50 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). His post celebrating India’s win in the T20 World Cup in 2024 was the most liked by an Indian on Instagram that year. As part of a celebrity couple – his wife is the Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma – their life is a constant staple of gossip columns and media interest.
He owns his own sportswear and fashion brands, and his long list of endorsements includes apparel, restaurants, and several technology start-ups.
Babar Azam has a sizable social media following, including 4.6 million followers on Twitter/X, 3.9 million on Facebook, and 3.4 million on Instagram. He endorses a wide range of products, including electronics and gadgets, mobile devices and gadgets, and businesses in the hobbies and leisure space.
Who is More Marketable? (Brand value, sponsorships, and impact on global cricketing culture.)
Virat Kohli’s net worth was estimated in October 2024 at US $127 million, making him the world’s 61st-paid, highest-paid sports figure. Babar Aazam’s net worth is a more modest US $5 million, composed of his salary from his central contract with Pakistan, sponsorship deals, and various endorsements.
In terms of marketability, Virat Kohli has greater brand value. Not only is India a bigger market, but the amount of money players can earn there is considerably more than in Pakistan. And, given the Indian diaspora, Kohli also has a more significant global appeal than Azam.
FAQs
1. Did Babar Azam overtake Virat Kohli?
Babar currently ranks higher than Kohli in Test (20th and 26th respectively) and ODI cricket (2nd as opposed to 5th). Kohli retired from T20I cricket after India won the T20 World Cup last year, so there is no comparison to be made there.
2. Why is Babar called King?
Babar is often referred to by that nickname by both the Pakistani media and fans because of his performances in all three forms of cricket. However, the player does not like the moniker, insisting that he still has a long way to go before he can be considered a king and prefers to focus on the team rather than any individual accolades.
3. Are Babar Azam and Virat Kohli friends?
Despite the constant comparisons between the pair and the enmity between Pakistan and India, the pair have always shown mutual respect and admiration for each other on and off the pitch. However, they do not know each other well enough for that to be construed as friendship.
4. Who has dismissed Virat the most?
Tim Southee, the former New Zealand captain and seamer, has taken the wicket of Virat Kohli more times in his career than any other bowler. He has taken his wicket eleven times – three times in test cricket, seven times in ODIs and once in a T20I. During those same matches, Kohli scored 128 test runs, 231 ODI runs, and 22 T20i runs off the bowling of Southee.
5. What is the rank of Babar Azam?
Azam has been the number one ranked player in all three formats of the game according to the ICC, although his recent struggles for form have seen some slippage. He is currently 20th in the list of test players, 2nd in ODIs, and 7th in T20I cricket.