Pakistan batter Babar Azam has shared his rankings of the modern era's "Fab Four" in an exclusive interview with Code Sports, placing Virat Kohli at the top
for performances across all formats while ranking him third in Test cricket.
The Fab Four-comprising Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Joe Root (England), and Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - have long been regarded as the premier batsmen of their generation for their consistency and impact.
All-Formats Ranking
In his assessment of overall contributions across Test, ODI, and T20I cricket, Babar placed Kohli first, highlighting his exceptional dominance, particularly in limited-overs formats.The ranking was as follows:
Virat Kohli
Steve Smith
Kane Williamson
Joe Root
Babar described Kohli as standing "above the rest" due to his overall impact and consistency, calling him "the greatest of his generation. " He pointed to Kohli's phenomenal ODI record, including over 14,000 runs at an average of 58.45 with 53 centuries, despite his retirements from T20Is and Tests.
Test Cricket Ranking
When focusing solely on red-ball cricket, Babar prioritized pure Test numbers and long-term impact in challenging conditions.
In Test cricket, the ranking reverses a bit, as Steve Smith has been named as the best among the quartet. The list follows with Joe Root, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson.
Babar clarified that the Test ranking was based on "pure red-ball numbers and impact over time" and emphasized it as a cricketing opinion, not personal. He reiterated his high regard for Kohli, describing him as an inspiration and someone he has always spoken highly of.
The comments came during Babar's ongoing stint in Australia's Big Bash League (BBL), where he is making his debut season. His rankings reflect a balanced view, recognizing Kohli's white-ball supremacy while crediting Smith and Root for their sustained excellence in the longest format.
