IND vs PAK: Babar Azam Finally Reacts To Virat Kohli Calling Him The 'Top Batsman In The World'

The mutual admiration between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is not a secret anymore. Two of the leading batsmen in the world, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have never shied away from praising each other whenever they get the opportunity.

Both batsmen have been constantly compared by fans, and the India-Pakistan rivalry only adds to the excitement. However, the constant comparison and the fierce rivalry between the two teams have not affected the relationship between them.

Babar Azam has once again shown the level of respect he and Virat Kohli have for each other. The Pakistan captain has expressed his delight over Virat Kohli’s comments for him that the latter made last year. Speaking on Star Sports, Virat Kohli had revealed his admiration for Babar Azam, saying:

“The first interaction I had with him [Babar] was during the 2019 [ODI] World Cup after the game in Manchester. I’ve known Imad [Wasim] since the Under-19 World Cup, and he said Babar wanted to have a chat.

“We sat down and spoke about the game. I saw a lot of regard and respect from him from day one, and that hasn’t changed,” the former India skipper had said. “Regardless of the fact he’s probably the top batsman in the world across formats, and rightly so. Performs so consistently and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.”

Babar Azam on Virat Kohli:

Opening up on Virat Kohli’s comments about him, Babar Azam began by saying that such positive comments from someone like the India star make him proud and confident. He too recalled the meeting between him and Virat Kohli during the 2019 World Cup and revealed how Virat Kohli answered all of his questions.

“It feels good when someone passes comments like these about you. The way Virat Kohli commented about me, it is a proud moment for me and I felt very good. When you are praised like this, you get confidence,” said Babar Azam while speaking on Star Sports.

“I approached him in 2019 World Cup because he was at his peak at that time, he is at his peak even now. I was thinking of learning something from him. That time, I learned a lot from him. I asked him questions and he explained the answers really well,” he added.

Beyond rivalries and runs, lies a foundation of respect! ??@babarazam258's touching encounter with @imVkohli echoes the sentiment of mutual regard that cricket fosters. ???? pic.twitter.com/YStrJsGDYU

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 31, 2023