While stressing that it is wrong to compare the duo, former Pakistan cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq has said that Babar Azam’s calmness gives him edge over aggressive Virat Kohli.
Ever since the emergence of Pakistan limited over skipper Babar Azam into the scene there have been regular comparison of him with Team India skipper and batting genius Virat Kohli. The same question was asked to former Pakistan off-spinner.
“Kohli is more aggressive while Azam is humble. Azam’s calmness gives him edge over Kohli if we look at what sports science teaches us,” Cricket Pakistan quoted Saqlain Mushtaq as saying.
Saqlain who is regarded as inventor of Doosra (Other One) lauded both and said that comparing the two was not ideal as Kohli is far more experienced.
“Both are great players, with great technique and are mentally very strong. They have the hunger and passion to score lots of runs,” he said.
“But comparing Babar with Kohli is unfair because the latter has been performing for a very long time, all over the world.”
On his pick as best spinners in all formats of the game, Saqlain picked Nathan Lyon for Tests, Kuldeep Yadav and Shakib ul Hassan for limited over cricket.
“In the longer version, I think Nathon Lyon is the best spinner in the world as he has performed against majority of the top sides including India and Pakistan,” he said.
“In limited-overs cricket, Kuldeep Yadav is a really good spinner and he is well educated with cricketing sense,” he said.
“Shakib al Hasan is a very clever bowler as well because I have seen him closely while working with Bangladesh.”