The debate between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam continues to stir the cricket discussions worldwide. While Kohli made his international debut in 2008, Babar entered the scene in 2015. Despite the experience gap, the two strikers are among the best of their generations and often find themselves compared in all formats.
The two were artists out of competition at the U-19 level and quickly increased in the ranks. Kohli’s career is decorated with major trophies, including the ODI 2011 World Cup, the Champions 2013 Trophy and the T20 2024 World Cup. Babar, on the other hand, led Pakistan to the victory of the 2017 Champions Trophy – its only major ICC title so far.
Let us decompose their statistics between the formats to understand who was the upper striker.
Cricket test: Kohli’s longevity against the constant rise of Babar
In the red ball cricket, Kohli’s experience is reflected. With more than 9,000 points in 118 matches, its impact in the longest format is undeniable. It has an average of higher strikers and has marked more centuries, in particular outside the subcontinent, a brand of excellence for any test paste.
| Metric | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 55 | 118 |
| Shopping | 3997 | 9040 |
| Average | 43.92 | 47.83 |
| Centuries | 9 | 29 |
| 50s | 26 | 31 |
| Highest score | 196 vs Australia (2022) | 254 * vs South Africa (2019) |
While Babar still develops its testing of testing, Kohli has already cemented its place as one of the great in the format.
Cricket Odi: the era of Kohli’s domination
Kohli is in a league in the Odi. It holds the record for most centuries in the format with 51, exceeding Sachin Tendulkar. It became the fastest at 14,000 ODI races during the 2025 champions trophy. Babar, although extremely coherent, still has ground to cover.
| Metric | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 120 | 299 |
| Shopping | 5809 | 14085 |
| Average | 56.95 | 58.20 |
| Strike rate | 88.70 | 93.41 |
| Centuries | 19 | 51 |
| 50s | 32 | 73 |
| Highest score | 158 against England (2021) | 183 vs Pakistan (2012) |
Babar’s ODI figures are in progress, but Kohli’s consistency over almost two decades gives it a clear advantage.
T20 Internationals: a neck race
The T20is offer a closer competition between the two. The two strikers crossed the brand of 4000 points. Kohli has a higher average and a strike rate, but Babar bordered it in the number of centuries.
| Metric | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 123 | 125 |
| Shopping | 4145 | 4188 |
| Average | 41.03 | 48.69 |
| Strike rate | 129.08 | 137.95 |
| Centuries | 3 | 1 |
| 50s | 36 | 38 |
| Highest score | 122 against South Africa (2021) | 122 * vs Afghanistan (2022) |
In T20is, it is a battle of styles – elegance and Babar control against the ability of aggression and calculated finish of Kohli.
Franchise cricket: IPL vs PSL
The franchise cricket gives another dimension to their rivalry. Kohli, an IPL veteran since its creation, has scored more than 8,000 points. Babar, Pakistan’s best striker in the PSL, has been consistent but has not yet equaled Kohli’s explosiveness.
| Metric | Babar Azam | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 90 | 252 |
| Shopping | 3504 | 8004 |
| Average | 45.50 | 38.66 |
| Strike rate | 127.41 | 131.97 |
| Centuries | 2 | 8 |
| 50s | 33 | 55 |
| Six | 58 | 272 |
| Four four | 486 | 705 |
| Best score | 115 vs Quetta (2023) | 113 * vs RR (2024) |
Kohli’s boost and longevity in the IPL distinguish it, while the coherence and classic Babar technique continue to shine in the PSL.
Conclusion: a story of two generational strikers
While Virat Kohli’s statistics dominate through the formats, the trajectory of Babar Azam suggests that he is on the way to grandeur. The longevity, the ability of Kohli, the capacity to perform under pressure and the winning match contributions through the formats put it slightly forward. However, Babar is not far behind and still has time to climb higher in the cricket hierarchy.
In the end, rather than choosing one rather than the others, cricket fans should savor the opportunity to attend these two mansters in the stick in action.