Azhar Ali surpasses Virat Kohli’s aggregate Test runs in the last one year

In the past 1 year, Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has been in great form, particularly in the Test format. He has played 15 Tests in which he has amassed 1,538 Test runs in 29 innings. This took him past Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s total who played 16 Tests and scored 1,503 runs in 25 innings.

Ali has scored most runs in Test cricket in the past 1 year. But when you compare the average of Kohli and Ali, the Indian skipper takes the cake. Ali has hit five centuries and five fifties at an average of 59.15. Kohli, on the other hand, has five centuries and two half-centuries at an average of 65.34.

Cheteshwar Pujara is also on the list

Steven Smith comes third at 1399 runs, Cheteshwar Pujara at fourth with 1378 runs and Jonny Bairstow with 1231 runs takes the no. 5 slot. At a time when Pakistan will soon be deprived of the services of two of its biggest Test heroes, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, Ali would be keen to continue his fine form and make up for the deficit of the veterans.

Ali, despite the stats, has been an unheralded hero. He was significant with the bat for Pakistan against Australia before he smashed two centuries in the ongoing three-match Test series against the West Indies.

On day two of the third and deciding Test at Dominica against West Indies, Ali went past Kohli’s aggregate of past 1 year when he brought up his 14th Test hundred. Azhar didn’t start his career as an opener, but following a crisis in the opening slot in the Pakistan team, he was promoted on top and performed exceptionally well.

Azhar’s lesser known side

Ali also has seven wickets in Tests and four in ODIs and last year, in 2016, he had the most runs in Tests by a Pakistani batsman. He is also the only Pakistani batsman to have two double centuries in the same year.