'There is No One Like Virat Kohli...Not Even Babar Azam': Former Pakistan Batter Rubbishes Kohli-Babar Comparisons

Virat Kohli and Babar Azam (AFP)

There is no denying greatness. In fact, it transcends boundaries of all kinds. Ask Pakistan’s Ahmad Shahzad. Even he could not help but revel at the undeniable Virat Kohli, India’s talisman batter.

Kohli was a pivotal part of India’s nail-biting win in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, playing a classic anchorman innings.

His stellar show with the bat left countless others around the globe awestruck at his brilliance for the umpteenth time. And Pakistan’s Ahmad Shahzad was one amongst the same, as the former batter expounded on the genius and unrivalled energy that Kohli possesses.

“Virat Kohli is a legend of our generation. He’s that kind of player who whenever he plays cricket, he plays it with the same enthusiasm. You could see it even in the final, where he celebrated every single wicket India took with the same elation, from long on and long off itself,” stated Shahzad.

The Virat Kohli-anchored Indian batting order put up a historic total of 176 in their outing, the highest total set in an ICC T20 World Cup Final.

Kohli, who had been struggling in the tournament with the bat so far, led the way with a clinical and calculated 76 runs off 59 balls, helping his side steer clear of imminent danger and to steady the ship for the eventual mammoth total.

“You know, he was struggling with the bat in the T20 World Cup for the longest. But, when it mattered the most, in the final when nobody could score runs, he stepped up with the bat. India would have never won the T20 World Cup final without Virat Kohli’s innings,” added Shahzad.

After the final, Kohli bid adieu to international T20s, after having put up 4188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69. He has scored 38 fifties and lone century which came against Afghanistan in September 2022.

The Pakistan batter expounded on the everlasting legacy that Virat Kohli leaves behind, and also stated that there is no comparing anyone with the batter, not even Pakistan’s Babar Azam.

“He is leaving behind a massive legacy for himself and the Indian cricket team, and to find a replacement to fill the shoes of a superstar like him, in any format of cricket, will be no easy task.”

“There is no one like Virat Kohli. Not me, not even Babar Azam. the statistics speak for themselves. No one stacks up to Virat in any sense, may it be the runs scored, or his strike rate. There is no comparison at all, he is the one and only Virat Kohli. To see him receive the sendoff he has, with the win, makes me happy as a cricket fan,” Shahzad stated.

Kohli walked into T20I sunset after reeling out a classy innings that led India to their second T20 World Cup title, paving the way for the next generation to take over.