ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, or Rohit Sharma? Rauf settles the best batter debate

Former Pakistan fast bowler Abdur Rauf heaped praise on Babar Azam, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to get underway on February 19 with the Men in Green taking on New Zealand in Karachi.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener, Abdur Rauf addressed the constant debate and comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam and left many surprised with his bold statement on the best batters in world cricket at the moment.

Rohit Sharma ranked above Virat Kohli and Babar Azam by Abdur Rauf

The former Pakistani cricketer praised Virat Kohli’s class, consistency, and ability to handle pressure while labeling Babar Azam as an exceptional best when he is in form, but he picked Rohit Sharma as his personal favorite, ranking him higher than the duo.

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Rauf told the Times of India, “Virat Kohli has no comparison. His class, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure set him apart. Babar Azam, when in form, is exceptional. But personally, my favorite batsman [batter] is Rohit Sharma. I believe Rohit is currently the best batsman [batter] in world cricket. He is way better than Virat and Babar.”

Notably, all these players have been struggling to score runs for a long time, but Rohit Sharma had shown glimpses of his form with a stunning 119 off 90 balls against England.

Even Virat Kohli followed up with a steady 52 off 55 balls in the next match, but Babar Azam is yet to hit his form, having scored his last ODI century against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023.

Abdur Rauf refuses to predict India-Pakistan showdown winner

Meanwhile, fans around the world are eagerly waiting for the high-stakes India vs. Pakistan clash in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on February 13. The much-awaited clash has everyone talking, and predictions are flying in from all corners.

However, Abdur Rauf denied picking the winner of the Titans’ clash in Dubai, saying this rivalry is always unpredictable. However, the former Pakistani pacer said that India seemed to have an edge a month ago, but the equation has now changed with Jasprit Bumrah’s absence.

Rauf further explained, “You can never predict the outcome of an India vs Pakistan match. It’s always a high-pressure game. It’s not just India vs Pakistan; fans from all over the world are invested in this contest. Both teams are strong, so making a prediction is difficult. A month ago, if you had asked me, I would have said India had the upper hand, but with Bumrah in the squad. With his absence, it’s much harder to call.”

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Abdur Rauf picks New Zealand as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 winner

Surprisingly, Rauf ignored his home team Pakistan, and even India and picked the Black Caps as the strongest favourite to win the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

He signed off by saying, “New Zealand is my top pick; they are a well-balanced, experienced side with a strong batting line-up, quality bowlers, and good spinners. More importantly, they have a good understanding of their game plans, which gives them an edge over other teams.”