Shoaib Akhtar reveals what Babar Azam needs to do to surpass Virat Kohli

Kohli vs Babar comparison continues to hog the limelight.

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Virat Kohli, Shoaib Akhtar and Babar Azam
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Virat Kohli, Shoaib Akhtar and Babar Azam. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

The constant debate between two modern-day great batters Virat Kohli and Babar Azam never seems to stop. If some experts say the Indian skipper is the best, then the other few feel the Pakistani skipper is more technically correct. Either way, the Kohli vs Babar comparison always hogs the limelight.

Now former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has given the verdict on the same and feels the debate revolving between the two of them is wrong. While Kohli started his international career in 2008 and has 70 international tons, Azam started his career in 2015 and has scored 20 centuries across formats.

The Pakistani skipper has slowly and steadily climbed up the ladder and is touted to be included in the ‘Fab Four’ list. Apart from Kohli, Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson are on the elite list and, Azam’s name too is always taken due to his sheer class and run-scoring ability. But among the ‘Fab Four’ currently, the Indian skipper leads the chart with the most runs than the other three.

Akhtar in an interview predicted Kohli to score 30 more hundreds and end his career with 110 centuries- 10 more than what Sachin Tendulkar had got. “Virat has what… 70 centuries in international cricket right. So in the next five years, he will get 30 more and I want him to get 120 centuries, or at least 110. See, with these many runs, who can be compared to him? The debate in itself is wrong. And Babar is now coming through. It’s really good that there is healthy competition,” Akhtar told Sports Tak.

Babar Azam may become the greatest Pakistani batsman of all time: Shoaib Akhtar

The cricketer-turned-expert also feels if Azam wants to catch up with Kohli’s records, then he has to be on a rampage and score tons and tons of runs quickly. The 45-year-old further opined Azam might end up being the greatest Pakistani batter of all time, but whether he can come close to Kohli’s record can only be decided after 10 years.

“If Babar needs to beat Virat and surpass him, he will have to score more runs while chasing and play the kind of innings Kohli has. There is no doubt that Babar Azam can probably be the greatest batsman of Pakistan, but it will take time. We will judge Kohli and Babar after 10 years where they stand,” Akhtar added.

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