The world of cricket has long been engaged in a statistical tussle Indiaof Virat Kohli and Pakistanof Babar Azam. Fans and pundits alike have spent years poring over cover discs and strikeout rates to determine who truly wore the first batter’s crown of this generation. However, after Pakistan’s recent dismal performance against India in the T20 World Cup, the former Indian wicket-keeper batsman was beaten. Dinesh Karthik stepped in to settle the dispute with a blunt, reality-checking perspective.
Tensions peaked during a high-stakes chase in Colombo. Chasing 176, Pakistan needed their captain to anchor the innings. Instead, Babar fell to a paltry 5 off 7 balls, dismissing him Akhar Patel after a shot selection that left many scratching their heads. For Karthik, it wasn’t just about the low score; it was about the mentality behind the dismissal.
Dinesh Karthik strongly accepts the Virat Kohli and Babar Azam comparison
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik did not hold back, classifying Babar’s early departure as a lack of competitive decision. While Babar is often heralded for his technical finesse, Karthik has pointed out the major flaw in his approach in difficult situations – the moments where Kohli built his legend.
“I can’t imagine Virat Kohli playing that shot at the start of the innings. That is, submission“,” Karthik remarked. He argued that greatness is not determined by how you play when the sun is shining, but by how you handle the pressure when the walls close in. According to Karthik, Babar’s sacking showed that he didn’t believe in what it took to push the team to the finish line.
While Kohli is popularly called the “master of the chase” for his ability to calculate risks and stabilize shots under pressure, Babar’s failure to carry that responsibility in Colombo has come under fire. With Pakistan slumping to a 61-run defeat, the calls for a leadership overhaul in the Pakistan camp have become even more deafening and pushed Babar further away from the legendary status that Kohli already holds.
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Virat Kohli and Babar Azam’s T20 World Cup run in various editions
To understand why Karthik’s criticism carries such weight, one need only look at the statistical gulf between the two players at T20 cricket’s grandest stage. The numbers tell a story of consistency versus flashes of brilliance.
| Statistics | Virat Kohli (2012-2024) | Babar Azam (2021-2026) |
| Matches/Innings | 35 / 33 | 21 / 20 |
| Escape | 1,292 | 615 |
| Medium | 58.72 | 34.16 |
| Holiday rate | 128.81 | 111.81 |
| 50s | 15 | 5 |
| Fours / Sixes | 111 / 35 | 54 / 9 |
The data highlight a striking difference in impact. Kohli’s average of 58.72 in a decade of World Cup cricket is nearly double that of Babar. Perhaps more telling is the borderline number; Despite Babar playing in an era when power hitting became the norm, Kohli cleared the ropes 35 times compared to Babar’s nine.
Karthik’s point is clear: Greatness is measured by the ability to thrive in the eye of the storm. Unless Babar can replicate Kohli’s match-winning consistency, the debate can only be one name at the top.
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