Comparison between the two cricket heroes is one of the most discussed topics among cricket fans. They are both considered modern legends, but their careers, performances and numbers are quite similar. Below is a rating of the performance of each group.

Career Records in All Formats
Kohli has 76 international appearances and over 25,000 runs in his international career (updated in 2024). His ODI average of 57.72 and 46 hundreds in One Day Internationals make him one of the greatest white-ball batsmen of all time. In the Test format, Kohli has never been inferior with over 8,500 runs and a batting average of over 49, as well as 29 centuries.

Babar Azam may be considered a young player in his career, but he is an exceptional talent with over 12,000 runs in international matches and 30 centuries in international matches. His average in One Day Internationals is 56.69, which is the second fastest innings to reach 5,000 runs. He has scored over 4,000 runs in Tests at an average of 47+, and in List A and T20Is, his natural grace and batting technique have consistently placed him among the top 10 batsmen.

Performance in ICC Tournaments and Pressure Situations

Kohli has performed well in ICC events, especially in the ODI World Cup, with an average of 55.25. His century of 82* against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup is considered one of the best innings in the shortest format of cricket. Essentially, he was called the "chase master" for his strategy and drive to pursue the goal.

Babar Azam has also bowled impressively in ICC tournaments, taking Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 mega event. However, despite performing well in the group stage, he was less convincing in the knockout games. With time, it is expected that Babar will also develop the skills to deal with high-risk plays like Kohli. Leadership and opinions on team performance
Under Indian captain Virat Kohli, he set very high fitness standards and led his team to become Test champions with 40 wins from 68 matches. However, he also led India to good results in ODIs and T20Is, but the ICC title was never within reach.

Current Pakistan captain Babar Azam has proven to be very calm as well as a strategist. He has put in match-winning performances against strong opposition as Pakistan captain, leading Pakistan to taste a Test series victory against South Africa. However, Babar's leadership is yet to be fully developed and at times Babar's tactics in important matches remained questionable. Conclusion Statistically, Virat Kohli has the edge due to his longevity, versatility and consistency across formats and conditions. However, Babar Azam is fast catching up with his outstanding performances and has the potential to reach similar heights. Both players have raised the standards of cricket and this comparison is more about celebrating their excellence than deciding who is the better player.