Pakistan captain Babar Azam is on the brim of breaking star India batter Virat Kohli's record. What is the more fascinating aspect of this is that Babar has the opportunity to shatter the record while facing Virat Kohli as India and Pakistan square off in their Asia Cup 2023 group-stage match on Saturday (September 2) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The record that Babar has the chance of breaking in this match is Virat Kohli's record of fastest to 2000 runs as a captain.
While the current recored holder Kohli had scored 2000 runs as skipper in 36 innings, Pakistan's run-machine has already accumulated 1994 runs from 30 innings and needs just 6 runs against India in that match to shatter another one of records set by Kohli. The Pakistan skipper is not new to breaking records. He shattered another one of those when he scored his 19th ODI ton in Pakistan's Asia Cup opener against Nepal in Multan on Wednesday (August 30).
With this, he became the fastest player to 19 tons in this format. He overtook Hashim Amla who had got to the landmark in 104 innings. Babar reached there in 102 innings. Kohli, meanwhile, had taken 124 innings to get to the same milestone. Having said that Kohli has been consistent for a prolonged period and boasts of 76 international centuries to his credit, a feat that Babar is very far from. Much like Kohli, Babar will have to overcome several challenges like fitness while playing all formats and overcoming periods of poor form to match the kind of legacy that Kohli has already build for himself.
Meanwhile, it will be an exciting game of cricket when India take on Pakistan at the Pallekele Stadium on September 2. The two teams are also likely to meet in the Super Fours stage in Colombo on September 10 and can meet for the third time in Asia Cup 2023 if India and Pakistan both make it to the finals.