'He's Elder To Me, Learned A Lot...': Babar Azam Slams Comparisons With Virat Kohli

Team India will kickstart their campaign in Asia Cup 2023 by squaring off against arch-nemesis Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (September 2).

Babar Azam captain of Pakistan during a press conference prior to the training session at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on September 1, 2023 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2023: The blockbuster India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023 match is all set to take place on Saturday (September 2) in Sri Lanka's Kandy. For the first time since 2019 ODI World Cup, Pakistan and India will square off in an ODI match, today. Pakistan, current number one ranked ODI team, attained an emphatic win over deutant Nepal in the tournament opener on August 30. India, on the other hand, will kickstart their campaign in Asia Cup 2023 by squaring off against arch-nemesis Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

As expected, fans and cricket pundits have been drawing the perennial comparisons between Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Indian batting icon Virat Kohli. However, now Babar Azam has come up with a strong response to put the much-hyped 'Kohli vs Babar' comparison to rest, saying that "Virat is elder than him and there is a lot of mutual respect between them."

On being asked about the often-made comparisons, Pakistan captain Babar Azam reportedly said, "The debate that has been going on should be left to them (fans). I don't want to comment on it. Everybody has their point of view. There should be mutual respect. He's elder to me, and I have been taught to respect our elders, no matter which country they are from."

"I have learned a lot from him. I have told in a lot of interviews that in 2019 I talked to him and he helped me a lot. He has been helpful. I can't tell you the details about it. The mutual understanding between all of us players, from all countries -- not just India -- is pretty well." he added.

Notably, during a recent interaction, Virat Kohli praised Babar Azam highly, even calling the Pakistan batter probably the best batsman in world cricket right now. 

In a conversation with Star Sports, Kohli said, “The first interaction I had with him was at the 2019 World Cup after the game in Machester… I saw a lot of regard and respect from him from Day 1 and that hasn't changed regardless of the fact that you know, he is probably the top batsman in the world right now across formats, performing so consistently and rightly so. He has amazing talent and I've always enjoyed watching him play".