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The comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is one of the most discussed topics in the cricketing world. Although Virat made his debut much earlier in 2008, while Babar played his first international match in 2015, the debate about these two batting superstars across various formats continues to thrive.
Both Kohli and Babar were U-19 stars. Kohli won the ODI World Cup in 2011, Champions Trophy in 2013 and T20 World Cup in 2024 with India, while Babar’s only international triumph is the Champions Trophy in 2017.
Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats.
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC ODI Events
ICC ODI World Cup
Kohli has played 37 ODI World Cup matches across four editions, scoring 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83 and a strike rate of 88.20, with five hundreds and 12 half-centuries. The former India captain has been dismissed without scoring only once in the ICC event. His best of 117 came off 113 balls against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
| Virat Kohli in ODI WCs | Innings | Runs | Not outs | Average | SR | HS | 100s | 50s | 0s |
| 2011 | 9 | 282 | 1 | 35.25 | 82.21 | 100* | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 305 | 2 | 50.83 | 81.55 | 107 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 9 | 443 | 1 | 55.37 | 94.05 | 82 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 765 | 3 | 95.62 | 90.31 | 117 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Total | 37 | 1,795 | 7 | 59.83 | 88.20 | 117 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
Looking at Babar's record in the ODI World Cup, he has played 17 matches and has scored 794 runs at an average of 52.93 and a strike rate of 85.74, with one hundred and seven fifties. He is yet to be dismissed for a duck in a World Cup match. Babar's only ton in the ODI World Cup came against New Zealand in Birmingham in 2019, when scored 101* off 127 balls.
| Babar Azam in ODI WCs | Innings | Runs | Not outs | Average | SR | HS | 100s | 50s | 0s |
| 2019 | 8 | 474 | 1 | 67.71 | 87.77 | 101* | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 320 | 1 | 40 | 82.90 | 74 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 17 | 794 | 2 | 52.93 | 85.74 | 101* | 1 | 7 | 0 |
ICC Champions Trophy
Looking at his stats in the Champions Trophy, Kohli has played 17 innings and has scored 747 runs at an average of 74.07 and a strike rate of 89.04, with six half-centuries and one century to his name. He has been dismissed without scoring on one occasion.
Babar has featured two Champions Trophies. In seven matches so far, he has scored 220 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 74.08, with just one fifty. In the 2017 edition that Pakistan won, Babar contributed 133 runs in five innings (two not outs) at an average of 44.33 and a strike rate of 74.71. Again, Kohli has a better average and strike rate than Babar in the Champions Trophy.
| Player | Innings in CT | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100s | 50s |
| Virat Kohli | 17 | 747 | 74.7 | 89.4 | 100 | 1 | 6 |
| Babar Azam | 7 | 220 | 44.0 | 74.8 | 64 | 0 | 1 |
Also Read: Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC T20I Events
ICC T20 World Cup
Virat is the all times highest run scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup. In 33 matches, Virat has scored 1292 runs at a strike rate 128.8 of and an average of 58.7. Kohli has also scored 15 half-centuries with a top score of 89 not out to his name.
Babar, on the other hand, has played only 3 editions of the T20 World Cup. In 2021, he was the top run-scorer after he made 303 runs from 6 games at an average of 60.60. In 17 T20 World Cup matches, Babar has scored 549 runs at an average of 36.6.
| Player | Innings in T20WC | Runs | Average | SR | HS | 100s | 50s |
| Virat Kohli | 33 | 1,292 | 58.7 | 128.8 | 89 | 0 | 15 |
| Babar Azam | 17 | 549 | 36.6 | 111.4 | 70 | 0 | 5 |