Comparisons between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli are baseless: Brad Hogg

Babar Azam’s away form should not be compared to Virat Kohli’s, said former Australian spinner Brad Hogg. The spinner’s comments come after Babar Azam’s fans took to social media after the batsman was dropped from the Test team and argued against the move using the example of Virat Kohli.

Even Pakistan batsman Fakhar Zaman took to Twitter to claim that India never dropped Kohli when he was going through a rough patch between 2020 and 2023. Fakhar said Babar was one of the best batsmen that the Pakistan had ever produced and said dropping the player would send a negative message to the team.

“It is worrying to hear suggestions of Babar Azam dropping out. India did not bench Virat Kohli during his difficult stretch from 2020 to 2023 when he averaged 19.33, 28.21 and 26.50 respectively.If we are considering leaving out our leading batsman, probably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message to the team.There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button, we need to focus on safeguarding our key players rather than undermining them.

However, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg had a completely different take on the matter and said that the lows of Babar and Virat should not be compared as the results of the cricket team of Pakistan are very different from the Indian teams.

Hogg pointed out that during Virat’s downs, India were the second best team in the world, while during Babar’s downs, Pakistan are the second worst. Hogg believed that tough calls had to be made at tough times.

“Babar Azam’s poor form comparison with Kohli after rumors that the Pakistan legend will be dropped for the second Test against England is baseless. India: 2nd best win % during Kohli’s draft. Pakistan: 2nd worst win % through Babar. Hard decisions must be made!” Hogg said.

Babar Azam has been in terrible form, not only in Tests but also in ODIs and T20Is. Babar has not been able to score a fifty in his last 18 innings in Test cricket and was also woeful in the T20 World Cup 2024.

In the previous match against England, Babar got out after a challenge on both his outside and inside edge and failed to score big runs on an absolutely flat ground in Multan.