Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: The Rivalry That Defines a Generation

No matter which side of the Wagah border you were born on, one thing’s for sure — the Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli debate has become the defining cricket conversation of the last decade. It’s more than just stats. It’s culture. It’s national pride. It’s how you see the game: elegance or aggression, patience or flair, refinement or fire.

Babar walks in like a classical musician, bat in hand, playing with timing and structure. Kohli storms the crease like a rockstar, eyes blazing, every run an act of intent. One builds innings with subtle flourishes; the other sets fire to phases with energy and precision. Comparing them is inevitable. Easy? Not even close.

Table 1: Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli – ODI Career Stats (as of 2025)

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Babar Azam	123	5,729	56.72	89.21	19	28
Virat Kohli	292	13,848	57.32	93.62	50	71

This table shows the obvious. Kohli has the volume. He’s done it longer, on more stages, against every kind of pressure. But Babar’s average? Almost identical. His start? Arguably better. The weight of comparison often leans unfairly toward longevity. But cricket is about moments too, not just mileage. And Babar, in fewer games, has delivered a string of masterclasses that put him firmly in the conversation.

Still, there’s a difference between entering a room and owning it. Kohli’s ODI centuries aren’t just milestones; they’re episodes. Colombo. Hobart. Adelaide. He didn’t just score runs—he bent narratives. But if Babar continues his climb, he’ll write his own mythology. And right now? He’s doing it in a team that often leans heavily on him.

T20I Showdown: Strike, Style, and Situational Mastery  

Within an arena filled with spectators and riled-up fans, T20 cricket is waged against time as strategic movement is required on all ends. As much as talent is noticeably a predominant player, “Kohli, accused often of not being the ideal T20 batter, rewrote that perception with unmatched consistency, especially in chases.” His numbers in World Cups, especially those iconic matches against Pakistan, will forever be celebrated. That particular Mohali game. Epic encounters in Melbourne.  

Babar? Elegance under lights. He has captured the cricketing world’s attention with cover drives. But the conversation around his strike rate lingers closely. The tempo of his innings, especially during elimination rounds of crucial tournaments, has been heavily critiqued.

Table 2: Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli – T20I Career Stats (as of 2025)

Player	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Babar Azam	104	3,485	41.49	129.12	3	30
Virat Kohli	117	4,037	52.73	137.96	1	37

Here again, Kohli shades it. The average, the strike rate, and the sheer number of match-defining knocks in crunch situations put him ahead. But Babar’s consistency remains remarkable. He’s built to be an anchor, and that’s how Pakistan uses him. The problem? In modern T20, anchors are under siege. The game favors enforcers.

That doesn’t mean Babar can’t accelerate. When he does, it’s gorgeous. But when he doesn’t? It invites noise. Kohli has managed to silence that noise with finishing flair. Babar is still finding the right frequency.

Test Cricket: The Last True Arena

If there’s one format where the Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli discussion gets philosophical, it’s in Tests. This is where reputation meets rhythm. Kohli, during his peak Test run between 2016-2019, was untouchable. Hundreds in England, double tons at home, series wins abroad. He was a Test captain who defined an era.

Babar, on the other hand, bloomed later. But he did so with poise. His Test average hovers near 47. His technique is solid, and his temperament rarely betrays him. The challenge? He’s still building that defining overseas legacy. A Lord’s classic. A Gabba epic. He needs that.

Kohli already has it.

More Than Numbers

Comparing these two isn’t just about who has more centuries or better averages. It’s about what they mean to their teams. Kohli is the emotion. He drags India with him, whether chasing 320 or defending 240. Babar is more restrained, but no less significant. He’s the steady hand in Pakistan’s volatility.

Kohli broke doors open. He changed India’s fitness culture, made aggression fashionable, and redefined how Indian cricketers viewed overseas wins. Babar is navigating a different challenge: stabilizing a team often rocked by politics, inconsistency, and comparison.

And yet, he holds himself with grace. Always. That in itself is a legacy.

Who Wins the Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli Debate?  

Your perspective shapes the answer. For dominance, Kohli wins. For aesthetics, Babar. Kohli takes the trophy for industry-related stress, while Babar deserves credit for enduring scrutiny with poise in a more chaotic environment.

This is not a Federer versus Nadal scenario; Think of it more as a modernized Tendulkar versus Dravid. Both are exceptional and indispensable. One will end his career with more staggering figures. At the same time, the other may charm fans through his elegant gameplay rather than relying solely on raw numbers.  

People will reminisce about this period, long after new athletes capture the media’s attention. In addition to their statistics, people will remember the emotions these players evoked beyond the runs scored.  

That is the more important statistic.