Babar Azam feels he shouldn't be compared to World No. 1 Virat Kohli

Karachi, Dec 19: Talented young Pakistani top-order batsman Babar Azam has brushed aside his comparison to Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli.

The right-handed batsman feels people shouldn't compare him to Kohli who, according to him, is the number one batsman in the world at the moment.

Azam was likened to Kohli by Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur last year but the cricketer played down the comparison. In an interview to ESPNCricinfo, Azam said he shouldn't be compared to such a "big player" and claimed that Kohli is "the No.1 batsman in the world".

"He compared me with a very big player. I think it shouldn't be done. But that is the coach's thinking. Maybe the stats at the start of our careers are similar, but he is the No.1 batsman in the world. I want to perform at a high level for Pakistan too," said Azam.

Azam said that in his early years, he used to follow South African batting sensation AB de Villiers and even tried to copy him. But, nowadays, he follows the likes of Kohli, Hashim Amla.

"I loved watching AB de Villiers in the early days. I used to follow him closely. I copied him a lot too. In the nets, I used to at least try some of the shots he played in the matches. Those hadn't been played back then. I still don't try those shots. I play normally. Nowadays I follow Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, and of course, de Villiers," said Azam.

Azam showed his class and skills during Pakistan's match against India in ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final in June, earlier this year, when he played a knock of 52-ball 42 in the most high-profile match of the year.

The stylish batsman has played 36 ODIs so far in his career and scored 1,758 runs at an average of 58.60. He has slammed seven half-centuries and as many hundreds to his name.