Zaheer Abbas Picks Virat Kohli, Babar Azam As His Favorite Batsmen

Pakistan batting great Zaheer Abbas has named India captain Virat Kohli and Pakistan captain Babar Azam as two of his favorite batsmen, saying that there are only two batsmen currently, whose styles are being copied by the younger generation.

Zaheer Abbas, who became the first batsmen in history to score three consecutive ODI centuries in 1982/83, was asked about his top three batsmen in world cricket in an interview with Cricket Pakistan, out of which Pakistan great picked only two.

Virat Kohli And Babar Azam Are The Only Two Batsmen In The World Whose Styles Are Being Copied: Zaheer Abbas

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are currently rated as one of the top batsmen in all three formats with both being present in the ICC top 10 batsmen rankings in all three formats. Babar is even ranked first in the ODI rankings, with Kohli being number two. In fact, Virat Kohli is the only batsman in the top five of all the three ICC batting rankings for all three formats.

“Captain of the Indian team, Virat Kohli is up there. There is no doubt that he is one of the best batsmen in the world. Then there’s our hero, Babar Azam and may god give him a long career and get more good performances out of him. He’s really god. You’ve asked me a tough question but I believe these are the only two batsmen in the world whose styles are being copied,” Abbas said.

Virat Kohli is considered to be part of the fab four of modern-day batting along with Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. While Babar Azam is getting there, he missed out due to making his Pakistan debut relatively late, in 2015.

Kohli has 7490 runs in 91 Tests, 12169 runs in 254 ODIs, and 3159 runs in 90 T20I matches. When compared, Babar Azam has 2169 runs in 33 Tests, 3808 runs in 80 ODIs, and 2035 runs in 54 T20I matches till now.

Virat Kohli has been part of India’s 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs, while has captained India to the no.1 spot in the ICC Test team rankings for five straight years now. Babar Azam is relatively new to the captaincy, but he was part of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy win, in which they defeated India in the finals.

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