Ahmed Shehzad: Comparing Babar Azam to Virat Kohli is Hurting His Performance

When Babar Azam made his international debut for Pakistan in May 2015, Virat Kohli had already established himself as one of the most celebrated cricketers in the world. Kohli was not just a rising star—he was already a global cricketing icon, having played a central role in India’s triumphs in major tournaments like the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He had also been named Player of the Tournament in the 2014 T20 World Cup, cementing his place among the modern greats. By the time Babar stepped onto the international stage, Kohli was widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation. As Babar began scoring runs consistently and showing promise as a technically sound batsman, comparisons between him and Kohli started surfacing in the cricketing world. Many fans and experts, eager to find the “next big thing” in Pakistan cricket, framed Babar as the country’s answer to Kohli, sparking endless debates on who was better.

However, former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad believes that these comparisons have done more harm than good for Babar Azam. Speaking to GeoSuper, Shehzad explained that while the initial comparisons may have been flattering, they have now turned into a source of immense pressure for the Pakistan captain. He emphasized that Kohli is in a league of his own—a player whose mental toughness, work ethic, and cricketing achievements are unmatched in the current era. According to Shehzad, even legendary figures like MS Dhoni, celebrated for their leadership and cricketing intelligence, cannot match Kohli’s prowess purely as a batsman and athlete.

“When everything was going well, people were busy making comparisons between players. But now that Babar isn’t performing well, the same people are saying, ‘Don’t compare players.’ Why this double standard?” Shehzad questioned. “Virat Kohli is a legend of this generation and a role model for cricketers worldwide. He can’t be compared with anyone—not even MS Dhoni. While Dhoni was an outstanding captain and leader, Kohli stands out in terms of batting, overall cricket skills, and athleticism. Constantly comparing players is unfair and only adds unnecessary pressure. This is exactly what is affecting Babar Azam now.”

Babar’s recent performances seem to support Shehzad’s point. The Pakistan skipper has been struggling with poor form across formats for quite some time. His inability to score big runs has cost him his place in both the Test and T20I squads. Although he managed to make a return to the Test side during the home series against the West Indies in January 2025, his performances in limited-overs cricket remain a major concern. Notably, he has not played any T20I matches since December 2024, signaling a steep decline in his standing in the shortest format.

The ODI series against the West Indies in the Caribbean earlier this year was another low point for the 30-year-old. Across the three matches, Babar managed scores of just 47 off 64 balls, a duck in three balls, and 9 off 23 balls. These underwhelming numbers have intensified criticism from Pakistan cricket fans, many of whom once hailed him as the nation’s batting savior. For a player who was once ranked among the top batsmen in the world across formats, this slump has been particularly alarming.

Shehzad’s remarks highlight a broader issue in modern cricket—how early comparisons to legends can derail the careers of promising players. While such parallels can serve as motivation, they often come with unrealistic expectations that weigh heavily on a player’s mind. In Babar’s case, the constant Kohli comparisons seem to have created a narrative where anything less than greatness is viewed as failure. As Pakistan cricket looks ahead, the challenge for Babar will be to rediscover his form, block out the noise, and focus on his own journey, rather than living up to someone else’s legacy. For now, the message from Shehzad is clear: let Babar be Babar, not Pakistan’s Virat Kohli.