Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq Reveals Babar Azam's 'Unique Ability' That Gives His Edge Over Virat Kohli

Not only Saqlain Mushtaq but many of Pakistan's current and former players have time and again stated that Babar Azam is very much close to the same league as Virat Kohli.

Photo: AFP

Pakistan cricket team's ex-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq believes Pakistan's newly-appointed young talented batsman Babar Azam's calmness gives him the edge over the India cricket team captain Virat Kohli. It's a no hidden fact that skipper Kohli is known for his on-field aggression. However, Saqlain conceded that it is not right to compare the two cricketers.

Pakistan Cricket team's star batsman Babar Azam was recently appointed as the white-ball captain of his national squad. Not only Mushtaq but many of Pakistan's current and former players have time and again stated that Babar is very much close to the same league as skipper Kohli.

"Both are great players, with a great technique, and are mentally very strong. They have the hunger and passion to score lots of runs," Mushtaq was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

"Kohli is more aggressive while Babar is humble. Babar's calmness gives him an edge over Virat Kohli if we look at what sports science teaches us.

"But comparing Babar with Kohli is unfair because the latter has been performing for a very long time, all over the world," he added.

Pakistan cricket team's head coach Misbah-ul-Haq who is also a selector in the PCB had said that the decision to replace veteran wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed with Babar was made, keeping in mind the 2023 World Cup.

"I don't like comparisons but Babar is currently very close to being in the same class as Virat Kohli, Steve Smith or Joe Root," Misbah said on Youtube channel Cricket Baaz.

"Making him the T20 captain was a tester. We wanted to see how he will respond to this challenge. All of us agree that he has done a very good job and his biggest plus is that being among the worlds top players he leads by example," the former skipper said. "If you are a performer like Babar then it becomes easier for you to motivate the rest of the team and get things done. Even when I was made captain in 2010 my performances were here and there and I was in and out. But captaincy changed my game and mindset and I became a more hard-working and motivated cricketer."