Babar Azam told to follow Virat Kohli right before IND vs PAK Champions Trophy match

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu heaped praise on star batter Virat Kohli ahead of the highly anticipated match against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy 2025. Sidhu said that Virat Kohli doesn’t throw his wicket away after settling at the crease and advised Babar Azam to adopt a similar mindset.

Virat Kohli managed 22 runs off 38 balls in India's opening game, where they secured a six-wicket win over Bangladesh at the same venue. Kohli has struggled for consistency in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup. He scored 137 runs in his last six innings at a dismal average of 22.83, including one half-century.

Phir Wo Lamba Conversion Rate Hai Uska - Navjot Singh Sidhu

In a video shared by Star Sports on X, Navjot Singh Sidhu said that Virat Kohli can convert starts into big scores. He stated that a great player doesn’t throw away their wicket after reaching 20 runs.

"Bada player pata hai kaun hai? Jab wo 20 kar gaya na, phir wo chhodta nahi hai. Phir wo lamba conversion rate hai uska, phir wo 70-80 karega, team ko jita ke bahar aayega. Yehi Virat kyunki (Do you know who a big player is? When he crosses 20 runs, he doesn’t throw his wicket away. He has a high conversion rate—once he gets going, he will score 70-80 runs and take the team to victory. That’s Virat for you)," Sidhu said.

Virat Kohli Never Gives Away His Wicket Cheaply - Navjot Singh Sidhu

Navjot Singh Sidhu pointed out that Virat Kohli has been dismissed early at times, but he converts to score a century once he crosses 25 runs. He advised Babar Azam to adopt a similar approach, stating that he is a technically sound batter.

"Tum dekho, Australia mein jab wo out hua hai, chaar pe out ho gaya, chhe pe, lekin jab 25 paar kiya hai na, 100 pe. Yeh bade player ki nishani hai, ki wo bowler use out kar jayenge, wo hota hai, lekin wo khud wicket feng ke nahi aata hai. Yeh Babar ko yeh samajhna chahiye, ki wo itna technically sound, itna bada player hai, jab wo 30 karke out hota hai na, to he cannot blame anyone," Sidhu added.

(Look at his performances in Australia—sometimes he got out early at 4 or 6 runs. But when he crossed 25, he went on to score a century. That’s the hallmark of a great player. Bowlers might get him out; that happens, but he never gives away his wicket cheaply. Babar needs to understand this. He is such a technically sound and talented player, but when he gets out after scoring just 30 runs, he cannot blame anyone.)

#NavjotSinghSidhu reveals how Virat Kohli converts his solid starts into big scores and shares valuable advice for Babar Azam#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 #INDvPAK | SUN, 23rd FEB, 1:30 PM on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 2 & Sports 18-1! pic.twitter.com/vjTWl4x34Q

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 23, 2025

Babar Azam Under Scrutiny After Pakistan's Defeat to New Zealand

Babar Azam has been under scrutiny following Pakistan's defeat to New Zealand in their Champions Trophy opener. After conceding 320 runs, Pakistan relied on their star batter to lead the chase. However, Babar struggled from the start and scored 64 runs off 90 balls before being dismissed in the match.

The right-handed batter scored 13 runs from his first 30 balls. His lack of intent kept Pakistan behind in the chase, and they were eventually bowled out for 260 in the 48th over, losing by 60 runs. The defeat has put Pakistan in a tough spot, and they need a win against India to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

Also read: Babar Azam ruled out of IND vs PAK!! Matchday report reveals no confirmation on participation