Babar Azam slaps journalist on face over Virat Kohli question: 'Khatam kardein, chhod dein isko'

Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam completely lost his cool on a reporter over a Virat Kohli question during the post-match press conference after his team’s thrilling win over the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026) on April 8.

Actually, a reporter compared Babar Azam’s finishing ability to that of Indian superstar Virat Kohli. The situation quickly went out of control as the Pakistani star slapped the reporter with bold comments.

Peshawar Zalmi wins the thriller against Hyderabad Kingsmen, but Babar Azam faces familiar criticism

Earlier in the evening, Peshawar Zalmi opted to bowl first and restricted the Hyderabad Kingsmen to a paltry 145, thanks to four-wicket hauls by Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem. Yet, the chase wasn’t easy for Zalmi at all, but the captain held the innings together with a steady 43 off 37 balls.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Read Also: Be****d! Mukesh Kumar gives a fiery send-off to Sai Sudharsan in DC vs GT clash

However, just when fans expected Babar to stay till the end and finish the match, he got out and left the job to the middle order. Still, Zalmi managed to pull off a nerve-breaking four-wicket win on the final ball against the Kingsmen in their PSL 2026 clash in Karachi.

Despite the win, the focus once again shifted to Babar’s recurring issue of failing to finish games despite good starts. But this time, the former Pakistan captain decided to respond brutally.

Reporter’s ‘Virat Kohli’ question triggers Babar Azam's fury

During the post-match press conference, things turned tense when a reporter directly questioned Babar’s finishing ability. He pointed out that Babar Azam often starts well but doesn’t stay till the end and then compared him with Virat Kohli.

He said that the Indian batting icon most of the time completes the chase for his team. The reporter asked, "There are a lot of expectations from you… You carry the innings but don’t finish games. Virat Kohli comes with the same shot of game as you, but he finishes the match, which you don’t. You’re often compared to Virat Kohli… Do you think this comparison is fair?”

Read Also: Watch: David Miller cries like a baby in dressing room after choking in DC vs GT clash, Hemang Badani reacts

Khatam kardein aap: Babar Azam shuts down reporter over Virat Kohli talk

The moment Kohli’s name came up, Babar’s expression changed instantly. Even he interrupted the question midway. The Pakistani batter shot back with a strong and angry remark, saying he doesn’t agree with the criticism, as he has finished many matches in his career.

The Peshawar Zalmi captain said, “Khatam kardein aap. Jis wajah se aap sawal kar rahe hain, chor dein usko. Acha, aage? (You should drop this question. Keep these things to yourself. End the comparison and move on.) It's your misconception that I have not finished matches.”

Babar defends himself before slamming criticism on his finishing ability

On being asked whether he’s working on polishing his finishing skills, Babar has noted that "the main thing is the match scenario—what the team requires, what the run rate is, and the condition of the pitch—you have to plan your game accordingly. Sometimes, you may feel it’s an easy pitch, but you cannot execute or the shots aren’t going through the gaps.”

The right-handed batter added, “You keep trying but aren’t able to score runs. I try to focus on my strengths and game plan. Everyone has to improve; you keep learning something new every day. We are also human beings and try to get better. The results take time to reflect.”

However, Babar didn’t forget the question as he signed off by saying, “Finish kaafi matches kiye hain. Aapko lagta hai maine nahi kiya hai, but maine bohot matches finish kiye hue hain. (You may think I don’t finish matches, but I have, a lot of them).”

Babar Azam stops the journalist when he asks about his comparison being done with Virat Kohli but he does not finish the game like Kohli.

VC: PCB#Cricket | #Pakistan | #BabarAzam | #PSL11 | #PeshawarZalmi pic.twitter.com/EH9VVj8ca8

— Khel Shel (@khelshel) April 8, 2026