'You compare him to Virat Kohli?': Babar Azam's horror tour of Australia shuts down all comparisons

The resounding impact that Virat Kohli has made over the years is by all measures quite phenomenal and unparalleled. Assimilations of a precedence of such consistency are few, and when it comes to modern-day cricket there is hardly anyone challenging the throne of King Kohli. However, Babar Azam's emergence to the fore had disseminated reverberations about a possible annexation of power, but considering, how he has fared at some of the prominent stages in the last few months, it is safe to say that "Bobzy the King" ain't competing against King Kohli anymore.

3 things you need to know

• Babar Azam could not live up to the expectations in the Australia series
• Azam is enduring criticism for his flop show down under
• Azam could not hit a single score of 50 or above in the series

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Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Built for the aesthetics

India vs Pakistan showdown, which always gets its due buzz, was in recent times portrayed by the revered broadcasters as the Clash of the Titans, Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam. To justify the contest some complicated charts of statistics comparing the trajectory of the two have often been exhibited on the screen, and later discussions on it by some gentleman, who once graced the field, gave further juice to the subject.

Leaving the graphs and the talks aside, here's the attribute that speaks volumes, and at one peek at it, no opaqueness would be left to the assertion that there is indeed no comparison between the two.

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Stats pose a clear picture

To put this into perspective, let's refer to some mind-boggling statistics. Since the Australia vs Pakistan series is in full swing, thus let's pick the numbers from the tour that matters. From 2016 to 2024, Babar Azam has featured in a total of 8 Tests that have been played in Australia and the right-hander has been able to make a total of 404 runs in a combined 16 innings. The average hovers at a lowkey 25.25. Kohli on the other hand has played 13 Tests down under from 2011 to 2020. He has been fairly consistent against the Aussies in their backyard as he has amassed 1352 runs at an average of 54.08 in 25 innings.

This is Babar's third take against Australia in Australia, yet a breakout tour is about to come. The right-hander got some starts in the series but in the end, concluded the affair without a single score of 50. Applying the same stipulation to Kohli, he was India's highest run-scorer (300) in his maiden Aussie tour that took place in 2011-12. Moreover, he left many astounded with his batting during his second stint in Australia as on that occasion he registered a whopping 692 runs for India in a 4-match series.

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Bobzy the King could not sort this out

Following Babar Azam's underwhelming show in the Australia series and before that in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, even some of the biggest advocates of the Kohli vs Babar debate have rested their case. Nevertheless, Azam do highlight a healthy scoring rate when it comes to overall figures, however, a juxtaposition with Virat Kohli is a far-fetched subject.

Thus, what do you have to say to this, what do you think is the factual headline, Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Battle of the Evens or Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: The comparison that never was?