"Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same statement" - Ravichandran Ashwin warns Fakhar Zaman

Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin took an indirect dig at Fakhar Zaman for comparing Babar Azam to Virat Kohli's lean patch in Test cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin said that Virat and Babar should not be included in the same statement after Fakhar Zaman's post on social media.

Pakistan selectors decided to drop Babar from the Test team for the last two matches in the ongoing series against England. Many experts and cricketers expressed their disapproval. Fakhar Zaman sparked controversy by criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and comparing Babar and Virat.

We Should End This Debate - Ravichandran Ashwin

In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin opened up the comparison between Babar Azam's struggles and Virat Kohli's. Ashwin said that Babar and Virat should not be mentioned in the same statement, adding that the debate should come to an end.

"Definitely, if he is given a chance, he will score runs. If there is class, I believe we should end this debate once and for all. First of all, across the border, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same statement," Ashwin said.

Babar was dropped from the squad after a string of poor performances in Test cricket. The right-handed batter scored 30 (71) and 5 (15) in the opening Test, where Pakistan lost the match by an innings and 47 runs. Babar failed to score a fifty in his last 18 innings in the longer format of the game.

Virat Kohli's Credentials Are Something Else - Ravichandran Ashwin

The 38-year-old cricketer said that apart from Joe Root in Test cricket, no active cricketer can match the achievements of Virat Kohli. Ashwin said that Babar Azam is an outstanding player, but Kohli's credentials are something else.

"I am really sorry, I rate Babar Azam. He is an outstanding player, but Virat Kohli's credentials are something else. Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done, no one has come close to doing so in the world of cricket. As far as I know, at this point, if anyone comes close, it is Joe Root in Test cricket," Ashwin added.

Babar Azam Has Struggled To Score Runs In Tests Since 2023

In 2023, Babar scored 204 runs in five matches at an average of 22.66, and his performance has declined further this year. The 30-year-old batter only scored 148 runs in four Test matches at an average of 18.50. He has not managed to score a half-century in the Test format since the beginning of 2023.

Like Babar, Virat Kohli endured a challenging period in his Test career from 2020 to 2023. Kohli got starts and scored half-centuries during his lean patch. He has an excellent record in SENA countries with 11 Test centuries. In contrast, Babar has only one century in challenging conditions in SENA countries.

Also read: "Babar Azam sells cricket for Pakistan"- Former Pakistan Cricketer