'Babar Azam, Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in same line' - Ravichandran Ashwin settles debate 'once and for all'

Amid getting dropped from the Test squad for the second game against England, star Pakistan batter Babar Azam received support from Fakhar Zaman. The left-handed batter commented that had it been Virat Kohli, he would not have been dropped despite going through a dry patch.

Notably, Babar's last half-century in the Test format came back in December 2022, and in his last 17 Test innings, he averaged a meagre 20.70. In his previous eight innings at home, on some batting-friendly tracks, Babar has averaged just 18.75. Addressing the comparison between Kohli and Babar, the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin said that he rates the Pakistani batter very highly but doesn't fall in the same category as the former India captain.

"Definitely, if he is given a chance, he will score runs. If there is class, that's okay. I feel we should end this debate once and for all. First of all, across the border, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same line," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"I am very sorry, I really rate Babar Azam as an outstanding player, but Virat Kohli's credentials are something else. Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done, no one has done that in world cricket. As far as I know, at this point, if any one comes close, it is Joe Root in Test cricket," he added.

Also Read: Desire to succeed overrode the pressure of replacing Babar Azam: Kamran Ghulam

Debutant Kamran Ghulam steps up in Babar Azam's absence

Pakistan picked 29-year-old batting all-rounder Kamran Ghulam as Babar's replacement in the second Test, which got underway on Tuesday, October 16. The former batted in Babar's No. 4 position in the batting order and notched up a brilliant century after Pakistan slumped to 19/2 inside the first 10 overs.

Also Read: 'It should have been Babar's call' - Ramiz Raja on senior batter's exclusion from remaining England Test series

A player of Babar's calibre won't take too long to return to his best. However, in his absence, Ghulam has shown that he is ready for the international stage. Pakistan ended Day 1 at 259/5 on the back of Ghulam's 118 off 224 balls, which comprised 11 fours and a solitary six.