Hasan Ali uses Root, Smith, Williamson's praise to claim Babar Azam is greater than Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are both known for their beautiful cover drives, and they are often compared for their trademark shot by the fans and cricket experts. Both Virat Kohli and Babar Azam bring their own unique charm to the classic cover drive shot, and now Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali has sparked the fresh debate on who plays the shot more elegantly.

Kohli’s cover drive is all about class and control. The dashing right-handed batter just leans into the shot with perfect balance, and the ball just races through the covers, making fans go gaga over his clean, powerful, and elegant stroke.

Hasan Ali rates Babar Azam’s signature cover drive above Virat Kohli’s

On the other hand, Babar’s cover drive is pure timing and grace. The former Pakistan captain’s wrists come into play more often, giving the shot a stylish whip. He plays it with soft hands and makes it look so smooth, almost effortless, precise, and elegant.

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Both the modern era batting stars make the cover drive look magical in their own way. However, Hasan Ali rated his Pakistani teammate’s signature shot better than that of the Indian batting icon’s cover drive during a recent interaction with the journalist Saleem Khaliq.

Most would choose Babar Azam's cover drive over Virat Kohli's: Hasan Ali

He picked Azam over Kohli when it comes to playing the perfect cover drive. The Pakistani pacer even claimed that most fans and cricketers would pick Babar’s elegant strokeplay over the Indian superstar’s signature shot. He also mentioned how Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root hailed Babar’s cover drive in the past.

Hasan Ali told Saleem Khaliq, “Great players like Kohli, Williamson, Smith, and Root have praised Babar Azam’s batting. If you ask people whether Babar’s cover drive is better than Kohli’s, most would choose Babar.”

Hasan Ali said, "Great players like Kohli, Williamson, Smith and Root have praised Babar Azam’s batting. If you ask people whether Babar’s cover drive is better than Kohli’s, most would choose Babar." (Saleem Khaliq) p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->3<!---->0<!---->8<!---->I<!---->V<!---->u<!---->x<!---->R<!---->3<!---->r

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Notably, England spinner Adil Rashid hailed the Pakistani star by saying, “I think Babar’s cover drive, but otherwise, Kohli’s straight drive and his whip are something else.”

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However, Babar has not featured in a T20I match since December 2024, and recently he was overlooked for the upcoming Bangladesh tour. He captained Pakistan in three straight ICC T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, and 2024) and will be seen in action on the Caribbean tour next month.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, and now he will only play ODIs for India. Kohli is all set to be seen in action in Indian colors on the Australia tour.

Hasan Ali picks Sarfaraz Ahmed as his all-time favorite captain

Meanwhile, Hasan Ali has recently named Sarfaraz Ahmed as his favorite captain. The Pakistan fast bowler shared that Sarfaraz holds a special place in the hearts of many players, including himself.

Hasan highlighted Sarfaraz’s leadership skills and the strong connection he had with the national team. He recalled how the former skipper guided Pakistan to a famous ICC Champions Trophy triumph over India in 2017 and always made sure the squad stayed united on and off the field.

Hasan Ali was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan: “Sarfaraz is closest to our hearts. He led us to victory in the Champions Trophy, kept the team united, and took us all along with him. Spending time with him was a learning experience.”