The debate of who is better, Virat Kohli or Babar Azam, in itself is wrong: Shoaib Akhtar

According to Akhtar, the healthy competition between Kohli and Azam is good.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is often compared to his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli when it comes to their batting exploits, but according to the former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar, despite the debate between Babar and Kohli, their comparison is wrong in itself.

Akhtar believes that Kohli has 70 international centuries to his name and is one of the world's leading batsmen, Babar has been steadily climbing up the ladder.

“Virat has what… 70 centuries in international cricket right. So in the next five years, he will get 30 more and I want him to get 120 centuries, or at least 110. See, with these many runs, who can be compared to him?” Akhtar told Sports Tak.

“The debate in itself is wrong. And Babar is now coming through. It’s really good that there is healthy competition,” he further said.

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The right-hand batsman from Lahore is seven years younger than Kohli and started his international career in 2015. The right-arm quick famously known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’ feels that in order to catch up to Kohli's stupendous record, the Pakistan captain will need to go on a rampage in the next few years.

“If Babar needs to beat Virat and surpass him, he will have to score more runs chasing and play the kind of innings Kohli has. There is no doubt that Babar Azam can probably be the greatest batsman of Pakistan, but it will take time. We will judge Kohli and Babar after 10 years where they stand,” the 45-year-old said.

As far as Virat Kohli is concerned, he will be taking the field as India takes on hosts England in a five-match Test series from 4 August. Babar Azam, on the other hand, will be traveling to the Caribbean as Pakistan is scheduled to take on West Indies in a multi-format tour.

(With Sports Tak Inputs)