Is the Pakistan skipper in the same class as Fab 4?
Babar currently has 18 centuries in 103 matches and has made over 5000 runs in ODIs.
Babar Azam’s stats in the last few years have been incredible.
His performance in ODIs has been exceptional, but is the Pakistan skipper in the same class as the Fab 4? So, let’s find out where Babar stands when compared with Steve Smith, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson with two big multi-national tournaments coming up (Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023):
Babar Azam stats vs Fab 4 in ODIs
Babar has played 103 matches for Pakistan and is already considered their best limited-over batsman by many. The Central Punjab cricketer has made 5202 runs in 101 innings and has the fourth-highest average of all time in ODI cricket (58.44). He has 18 centuries and 26 fifties to his name and holds the record for being the quickest to reach 5000 ODI runs (97 innings), beating Hashim Amla’s record (101 innings).
Also Read: What are Babar Azam’s stats in Asia Cup?
Check Pakistan skipper’s record in ODIs ahead of Asia Cup 2023
Compared to Babar, Virat Kohli has played 275 matches, scoring 12898 runs and averaging 57.32. He also has 28 more centuries and 39 more fifties than the Pakistan skipper. Kohli is 5th in the highest averages in ODIs, one spot behind Babar, and holds the record for the fastest player to reach 8000, 9000, 10000, 11000, and 12000 ODI runs.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Highest Score: what is the former Indian skipper’s top score?
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith has scored 4939 runs in 142 games. The right-hander averages 44.49 and has six fewer hundreds but three more fifties than Babar. While considered to be the finest Test batter of the generation, Smith is not seen as the best limited-overs player by many due to his diminishing returns.
Former England Test skipper Joe Root seems to go under the radar when talking about ODIs. However, Root has made 6207 runs at a sublime average of 50.05 in 158 matches. Root has made 16 centuries compared to Babar’s 18 but has 10 more fifties. The middle-order batter is among the top 10 fastest batters to reach 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 ODI runs.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has 6554 runs at an average of 47.83 in 161 matches. The Kiwi has half the centuries as Babar does (13) but has 16 more fifties. Williamson was awarded player of the tournament in the last ODI World Cup in 2019 and is also among the top 10 fastest batters to make 4000, 5000, and 6000 ODI runs.
