‘Don’t write Babar Azam and Virat Kohli in the same line’: Ravichandran Ashwin’s verdict on comparisons between Indian and Pakistani star batsmen

Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin revealed his opinion on the comparison between Indian star Virat Kohli and Pakistan talisman Babar Azam.

Babar was left out of the second Test against England by the PCB after a horrible run in the whites. While Ashwin said he had no doubts about the Pakistani batsman’s quality and ability to score runs, he also played down the parallels drawn between Babar and Kohli.

“Babar will definitely score runs if given the chance, he is a quality player,” the spinner began.

“But, I think we should end this debate once and for all,” he continued.

“First of all, just because it’s across the border, don’t write the names of Babar Azam and Virat Kohli in the same line,” the 38-year-old asserted.

“I’m very sorry. I rate Babar Azam very highly, he is an amazing player. But, Virat Kohli’s credentials are something else,” he continued.

“On pitches, on time, in pressure situations, the kind of steals he has made is unprecedented in world cricket,” Ashwin added.

He added that England batsman Joe Root, who has been in impressive touch in recent times, is the closest to the Indian batsman.

“Right now, the second closest is Joe Root,” Ashwin added.

Babar has had to endure an extended period of troubled form in the longest form of the game as he has struggled to reach a historic score in over a year.

He was dismissed for 30 runs and 5 in the first and second innings of the opening Test at home against England as the visitors registered a defeat winning by an innings and 47 runs.

In the opening Test of the series, Pakistan managed to post a first innings total of 556 runs thanks to tons from skipper Shan Masood, Salman Ali Agha and Abdullah Shafique. England replied with 823 runs with a Harry Brook triple century and a double ton from Root. England’s bowlers bundled Pakistan out for 220 runs in the second innings to seal an emphatic victory.

Babar was subsequently dropped from the squad for the second Test and was replaced by Khamran Ghulam, who scored a century in Multan on the first day of the second Test.