Over the years, there have been several comparisons made between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. Many fans around the world have expressed their anticipation of Babar becoming an all-time great for Pakistan, similarly Kohli has established his name in Indian cricket.
Babar and Kohli possess different strengths when it comes to their scoring areas and techniques across varying formats. Yet, one factor which remains constant is their burning desire to serve the nation and excel while representing their respective
teams.
Kohli made his international debut in 2008 while Babar made his seven years later. The former has already announced retirement from T20Is and Tests, leaving the 50-over format as his only active one. On the other hand, Babar is still active in all three formats.
Virat Kohli’s records that Babar Azam has surpassed
5. Faster to 1000 runs in ODIs
While Kohli got past his first 1000 ODI runs in 24 innings, Babar took three innings fewer. Kohli took 1 year and 291 days. On the other hand, Babar took 1 year and 233 days. He attained the landmark during an encounter between Australia and Pakistan at the WACA Ground in Perth in 2017.
Babar was dismissed for an 84-run knock off exactly 100 deliveries. He top-scored for Pakistan in that match. Unfortunately, Steve Smith's unbeaten knock of 108 off 104 overpowered Babar's effort as the Australians got over the line with seven wickets and 30 balls to spare.
4. More 50-plus scores in consecutive innings in Tests + ODIs + T20Is
Babar enjoyed a fruitful run in 2022. He registered a record international matches across formats in which 50-plus scores were piled up. Kohli has not been able to go past six such innings. The Indian veteran had last achieved such an accomplishment way back in 2012.
Babar's streak kicked off with a majestic 196 against Australia in the fourth innings. In the following Test in Lahore, Babar brought up two half-centuries. The ODI series followed, in which one fifty and two tons came off his marauding blade. The 77 off 93 against West Indies in Multan was the ninth and final match. As of October 2025, his record of nine consecutive innings with fifty-plus scores across formats in international cricket still stands strong.
3. More matches as captain in T20Is
By the time Babar resigned from his role as T20I captain, he had led the setup in 85 matches. Kohli announced that he would step down from the position of India's T20I skipper after the T20 World Cup in 2021. Kohli led the team for 50 matches.
However, Babar's win percentage as T20I skipper was a touch lower than that of Kohli. The Men in Green won 56.47% of the matches under his helm. Meanwhile, the Indian team won 30 of the 50 matches which were played under Kohli's reign as captain.
2. Faster to 5000 runs in ODIs
After a stellar start to his ODI career, there was no stopping Babar when it came to scoring runs at a free-flowing rate. Babar got past the 5000-run tally in 97 innings. Kohli had taken 114 innings to get to the milestone.
Babar got to the landmark in some style. His 117-ball 107-run knock in the fourth ODI of the five-match series earned him the POTM award as well as boosted the Green Shirts to a 102-run win which helped them to increase their lead to an assertive 4-0 margin.
1. More 50-plus scores in T20Is
Babar recently overtook Kohli to top the list pertaining to most fifty-plus scores in T20Is. Babar has 40 such scores (37 fifties and three tons), while Kohli attained 39 (38 fifties and a sole ton). It is interesting to note that at the point Babar went past Kohli, the latter's average and strike rate were superior to those of his Pakistani counterpart.
The 68 off 47 made sure Pakistan got over the line in the third and final T20I of the series against the Proteas. The significance of the innings was amplified due to the knock being his first 50-plus score after 13 innings.
