Image: Kamran Akmal disagrees with comparisons between Azam and Kohli, calling them foolish / © News18
Ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, Kamran Akmal, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter, dismissed comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, asserting that Kohli belongs to a league of his own. While fans often compare the two players, especially regarding their cover drives, Akmal believes Kohli’s record and impact are unmatched.
Kohli has faced struggles in Test cricket, but in ODIs, he excelled, playing a pivotal role in India’s 2023 World Cup success and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries with 50. In contrast, Babar Azam, despite his immense talent, has struggled for runs across formats, with his last ODI century coming in August 2023 against Nepal. Akmal expressed hope that Babar would regain form in the Champions Trophy and eagerly await his 20th ODI century, which would make him Pakistan’s top century-scorer in ODIs. He said:
Virat is such a big player but in the last few years, he has also been struggling for runs. He has just 3 Test tons in the last five years. Babar is also going through a lean run. He just needs to follow the process. The entire country is waiting for his 20th ODI ton. Maybe he gets back among the runs in the Champions Trophy. We want him to score at least 30-35 ODI centuries.
Pakistan, in Group A alongside India, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, begins its campaign against New Zealand on February 19, with the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash scheduled for February 23 in Dubai. Akmal set a target for Babar of 30-35 ODI centuries, emphasizing that Kohli’s legacy is an incredibly high benchmark to reach.