'Technically sound' Babar Azam will not have rough patch as long: Ex-Pak pacer on Virat Kohli comparisons

Drawing comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed feels that the latter will never endure the sort of rough patch that the former is going through at the moment.

TN Sports Desk

Updated Aug 13, 2022, 11:53 IST

Babar Azam has often been compared with Virat Kohli

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Virat Kohli has been going through a rough patch for a long time.
Babar Azam, in comparison, has been in a solid form.
Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed doesn't feel Babar will ever go through a rough patch as bad as Kohli's.

The comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam have been going around for years. At present, Babar seems to have a little edge because of Kohli's poor form. However, former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed feels Babar will never endure the sort of barren run that Kohli is going through at the moment.

It's been well over 2 years since Kohli last scored a century. His performances in any of the three formats for India or the Indian Premier League haven't been up to the mark.

Javed, drawing comparisons between Kohli and Babar, said that the latter is a more technically sound player, and hence, wouldn't have a slump as long as the Indian stalwart.

“There are two types of great players. One is players who, if they get stuck, their rough patch continues for a long time. The others are technically-sound players, whose rough patch cannot continue that long, like Babar Azam, Kane Williamson, Joe Root. It is difficult to find their weakness. Kohli gets stuck at times with those deliveries outside off stump. James Anderson has targetted that a million times.

Kohli has a terrific record against Pakistan. In 7 innings so far in the shortest format, Kohli has scored 311 runs against Pakistan at an average of 77.75.

“If Kohli doesn't perform, and India lose, they also face a similar situation like us. Then questions tend to arise that why didn't they play an in-form Deepak Hooda, suppose. But in UAE pitches, even out-of-form batters tend to find rhythm,” Javed added.

India and Pakistan are scheduled to take on each other in the Asia Cup 2022 on August 28. The Men in Blue would look to avenge the defeat they suffered in the T20 World Cup 2021. India and Pakistan haven't faced each other since the showdown in UAE last year.

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