In the world of cricket, the battle for supremacy between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam has been a topic of much debate and discussion. While Kohli dominated the international cricket scene in the previous decade, the current scenario paints a different picture. Babar Azam, the Pakistani batter, has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, achieving a remarkable feat by becoming the first batter in the 2020s to score 9,000 international runs. This achievement is all the more impressive considering the fact that Kohli, who was once the undisputed king of cricket, is now ranked sixth on the list of highest run-scorers in international cricket since January 2020.
What makes Babar's achievement even more significant is the fact that he has achieved it in a relatively short period of time. Since 2020, Babar has scored an impressive 9,060 runs from 231 innings across 212 international matches, at an average of 42.53. This is a testament to his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. Moreover, Babar has also scored 17 centuries in this period, the third-highest among batters after Joe Root and Shubman Gill. This is a clear indication of his ability to perform in high-pressure situations and his ability to score big runs when it matters the most.
On the other hand, Kohli, who was once the undisputed king of cricket, has seen his rankings slip. While he has scored 6,771 runs from 182 innings in international cricket since January 2020, his average of 42.31 is lower than Babar's. Moreover, Kohli is no longer part of India's setup in all formats after retiring from T20 Internationals in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025. This is a clear indication that the tide has turned against him, and he is no longer the dominant force that he once was.
What makes the comparison between Babar and Kohli even more interesting is the fact that they are both from the same generation of cricketers. Both players have been at the top of their game for a significant period of time, and their achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication. However, the fact that Babar has been able to achieve more in a shorter period of time is a clear indication that he is the better player of the two.
In my opinion, Babar Azam is the clear winner in this comparison. While Kohli was once the undisputed king of cricket, Babar has emerged as a force to be reckoned with, achieving remarkable feats in a relatively short period of time. His consistency, ability to perform under pressure, and ability to score big runs when it matters the most make him a clear winner over Kohli. Personally, I think that Babar's achievement is a clear indication that he is the future of cricket, and that he will continue to dominate the sport for years to come.
