The sky is the limit for talented Pakistan batsman, Babar Azam. The flamboyant batsman is often likened with Indian skipper Virat Kohli. In fact, Azam has matched Kohli step by step in his career thus far and even he has broken some of Kohli’s records. Babar Azam doesn’t want to be compared with Virat Kohli as the latter has already achieved a lot in the same.
However, Azam wants to emulate the talisman Indian batsman and want to achieve the same heights as Kohli. Azam said he wants to get where Virat Kohli is right now. Kohli is the most consistent batsman in the world and what he has achieved in the last seven years has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Babar Azam is on the right path.
“Look he (Kohli) has already achieved a lot. He is a legend in his country. Honestly, there is no comparison with me right now but eventually, I also want to get where he is today,” Azam said.
“The media and people have drawn comparisons between me and Virat Kohli but I realize that I still need to get more runs in red-ball cricket to be ranked among the top players. That is why in recent months I have been focusing a lot on getting consistent scores in Test matches,” he added.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are currently only the two batsmen who are in the top 10 rankings of all the three formats. Kohli is placed at a numero uno position in the Test and ODI format whereas he is placed at the 10th rank in T20I rankings. On the other hand, Babar Azam is placed at the pole position in the T20I rankings while he occupies nine and third place in the Test and ODI rankings respectively.
The stylish Pakistan batsman scored his third Test century in the first Test at Rawalpindi which ended in a stalemate. Babar Azam said he tries to rectify his own mistakes by watching his videos.
“I don’t feel any pressure if anyone compares me with Kohli or (Steve) Smith. I am now more focused on my batting and I spend hours watching videos of my innings. I catch my mistakes and then I try to ensure I don’t commit them again the next time,” he said.
Babar Azam is a special talent and he is bound to achieve great things for Pakistan. The flamboyant batsman will like to continue in a similar fashion and deliver the goods for his team. The second Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will take place in Karachi from 19th December.