Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has called for an end to the ongoing comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. This follows Pakistan’s significant loss to India in their T20 World Cup 2026 match in Colombo, where Babar scored only five runs off seven balls. Pathan highlighted Babar’s struggles against India, noting that Kohli has a strong record of performing in high-pressure situations.
“Please stop comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli. Kohli is on another level. Just look at his innings against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup. Has Babar ever played such an innings under pressure? Besides 2021, when the dew played a big role, how many times has Babar dealt with pressure and finished games?” Pathan stated on his YouTube channel.
Pathan also examined Babar’s dismissal during the Colombo match. He was bowled by Axar Patel while attempting a slog sweep. Pathan suggested Babar misread the situation and should have batted longer, especially with early wickets lost, rather than taking unnecessary risks.
“With three wickets down, he should have aimed to bat until the 15th over, focusing on singles and doubles. A strike rate of 120 would have been acceptable considering the pressure. But he went for a big shot and got out. He doesn’t consistently clear boundaries nor rotate strike easily against quality spin,” he added.
Pathan expressed concern about the overall state of Pakistan’s batting order, mentioning issues of clarity and depth, particularly during crucial matches. He emphasized that Pakistan’s batting struggles in comparison to their strong bowling line-up hurt their performance.
“Because of this approach, Pakistan didn’t even bat the full 20 overs. This was a disappointing defeat. Once India scored 175, the match was basically over. Pakistan’s batting lacks the strength it needs. I mentioned before the match that while people praised Pakistan’s bowling, we should also consider their batting, which lacks depth and strategy,” he concluded.
