T20 World Cup 2026: Irfan Pathan slams Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam debate

The year was 2022, and the occasion was the T20 World Cup 2022, when the Indian team was in a major problem after losing 4 wickets for 30 runs while chasing 160 runs against Pakistan. From here, Virat Kohli played the best innings of his T20 career for India and won the match for India. He first started slowly and brought Team India back in the match with singles and doubles, and then took calculated risks on the bowlers and took the team to the finishing line. In this match, he scored 82 runs in 53 balls. He smashed 6 fours and 4 sixes. 

A similar situation existed on the evening of February 15, 2026, when Pakistan was chasing 176 against India in the T20 World Cup and had lost three batsmen for 13 runs in the second over. Every Pakistani fan expected their king, Babar Azam, to play a powerful innings against India and win the match for Pakistan, but Babar returned to the pavilion with just five runs scored, leaving Pakistan in trouble. At the end, Pakistan were bowled out on just 114 runs in 18 overs, and India secured their 8th victory over Pakistan in their 9th meeting. 

Pakistan cricket fans always compare Babar Azam with Virat Kohli. But now, they understand the real difference between these two players. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan also requested that the fans say that the comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam should stop.

"Please, stop comparing Babar Azam with Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli is in a different league. Look at his innings against Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup. Has Babar ever played such a knock under pressure? Apart from 2021, when dew played a big role, how many times has Babar absorbed pressure and finished games like that? " said Pathan.

Pathan also spoke about Babar Azam’s dismissal in the Colombo match. According to Pathan, Babar failed to read the match situation and was bowled when he tried to play a slog sweep against Axar Patel. His team was already in trouble, and Babar further increased their problems.

"With 3 wickets down, he should have batted till the 15th over, focused on singles and doubles, and played a long innings. Even a strike rate of 120 would have been acceptable given the scoreboard pressure. Instead, he went for a big shot and got out. He can’t consistently clear boundaries at will, nor to rotate strike freely in the middle overs against quality spin when the ball grips," he added.
Irfan Pathan also raised questions on Pakistan’s batting approach. He pointed out the team's lack of clarity and depth and match decisions too. 

"Because of that approach, Pakistan couldn’t even bat the full 20 overs. This was a shameful defeat, no doubt about it. Once India reached 175, the match was practically over because Pakistan’s batting simply lacks strength. I had said before the match that people are praising Pakistan’s bowling this time, but what about their batting? Their batting lacks depth and approach," he reflected.

Virat Kohli or Babar Azam: Who is the better T20I batter? 

Babar Azam has played 6 T20I matches against India, in which he scored only 110 runs at an average of 22.00. His highest cricket score of 68* against India came during the T20 World Cup 2021. But after his cricket scores are 10, 14, 0, 13, and 5. On the other hand, Virat Kohli played 11 T20Is against Pakistan, scoring 492 runs at an average of 70.28. He smashed 5 half-centuries, including the iconic 82 in Melbourne in 2022, 78 in 2012, 55* in the 2016 edition, and 49 in the 2016 Asia Cup. 

Babar Azam vs India (In T20Is)

Virat Kohli vs Pakistan (In T20Is)