Everyone should learn about consistency and dedication from Virat Kohli: Azam Khan

Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan, currently representing the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, recently emphasised the importance of consistency by giving the examples of Indian icon Virat Kohli and Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam. 

Both batters are often compared due to their contributions to the game and the fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan. Kohli, with over 9200 runs in Test cricket and 12,898 in ODIs, is one of the greatest batters of the generation. Babar, on the other hand, has gone on to become one of the most consistent batters, currently ranked the No. 1 batter in the 50-over format. The Desert Vipers batter pointed out the duo's consistency which has set them apart from others.

"I think everyone should learn consistency from Babar Azam and Virat Kohli and the dedication they have towards their work. Even If the world falls apart and they aren't able to perform, they will stick to their basics and both of them are the best batters of their respective countries currently," Azam said in a media interaction.

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Players like these just need confidence: Azam Khan

Meanwhile, the Indian batter is going through a lean patch since the Australia series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he scored 190 runs across five matches. Kohli, who has retired from T20Is, remains a crucial part of India’s ODI setup and will be important in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

"I know Virat is currently struggling with form after the Australia series, but more than me he knows how to overcome it. I don't think players of Virat's stature would require a piece of advice from me and to make him remember how big of a player he is, I am sure he knows about it," Azam added.

Furthermore, Babar has also faced ups and downs recently, including being dropped from the Test squad in mid-series against England in 2024. However, his performances in South Africa, where he registered a hat-trick of half-centuries, saw him regain form after a string of disappointing scores. His fellow countrymen, Azam revealed that it's about that one innings for the players to get back their confidence.

"Meanwhile, Babar is the best batter that Pakistan has, so I feel players like these just need confidence and they are just an inning away. You would have seen Babar how he performed in South Africa, so I think once you start performing the confidence comes in automatically," the 26-year-old concluded.

India and Pakistan are all set to lock horns in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on February 23 in Dubai. Both Kohli and Babar will once again look to put up a great performance for their respective sides in this game and continue it in the entire tournament.