Why is Virat Kohli Far Ahead of Babar Azam in T20 Cricket? Dinesh Karthik explains

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For years, cricket fans have argued over who is the superior among India's Virat Kohli or Pakistan's Babar Azam.

While both are world-class players, former Indian wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik recently gave a very "blunt remark" to end the discussion. He believes that while Babar is an excellent player, he cannot yet be compared to a "legend" like Kohli.

Karthik was very direct when asked about the comparison. He made it clear that Kohli's long history of winning matches puts him in a different category. According to the report, Karthik stated:

"There is no debate. Virat Kohli is a legend of the game. Babar Azam is a very good player, but he still has a long way to go to reach where Virat is."

To back up his opinion, Karthik pointed toward the massive difference in their performances on the biggest stage-the T20 World Cup. When we look at the numbers, the gap between the two becomes very clear. Between 2012 and 2024, Virat Kohli played 35 matches and scored a massive 1,292 runs. In contrast, Babar Azam has scored 615 runs in 21 matches between 2021 and 2026.

The most shocking difference is in their consistency and speed. Kohli holds a incredible average of 58.72, which is nearly double Babar's average of 34.16. Kohli also scores much faster, with a strike rate of 128.81, compared to Babar's 111.81.

The data also shows that Kohli is much more effective at hitting big shots. In T20 World Cups:

• Milestones: Kohli has scored 15 half-centuries, while Babar has only 5.
• Boundaries: Kohli has hit 111 fours and 35 sixes. Babar, despite playing in an era where power-hitting is more common, has only hit 54 fours and 9 sixes.

Karthik believes that for Babar to be mentioned in the same breath as Kohli, he needs to show this level of greatness for a much longer time. He noted that:

"Babar is a class act, no doubt about it. But when you talk about the greats of the game, you need to see how they perform over 10 to 15 years," the former India player added.

Ultimately, the numbers tell a story of "consistency versus flashes of brilliance." While Babar Azam is a star for Pakistan, the stats suggest that Virat Kohli remains the undisputed king of T20 World Cup cricket.