Pakistan’s batting consultant for ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Mathew Hayden admitted that Virat Kohli has achieved a lot as a world-class batter but said that Babar Azam’s ability to react to the ball is second to none.
After winning 5 out of their 5 games in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2021, Pakistan suffered a heartbreak as they lost the nail-biting semi-final by 5 wickets to see themselves getting knocked out of the tournament.
One of the main reasons behind Pakistan’s consistent performance in the tournament was their skipper Babar Azam's batting. The right-handed batter scored in almost every game and led his team into the semi-finals.
Babar Azam so far has been the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 303 runs to his name in the 6 innings and is also the player to have the most number of fours in the T20 World Cup 2021.
He also surpassed Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli to become the fastest batsman to score 2500 runs in T20Is in. Pakistan skipper achieved this feat in 62 innings while Kohli reached the landmark in 68 innings.
Speaking ahead of the semi-final between Pakistan and Australia, Matthew Hayden had lauded Babar Azam, saying that he’s very consistent, stable and not overly flamboyant.
While talking about the comparison between, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli, Hayden said that the former is calm and bats meticulously while on the other hand, the latter is very animated, passionate and very ‘boisterous on the field.
"Babar and his personality are, as you see, what you get. He is very consistent. He is very stable. He is not overly flamboyant. They are opposites the way I look at them.
“Babar is pretty calm most of the time and goes about his captaincy and batting meticulously while Kohli is very animated, very passionate, and very boisterous on the field," Matthew Hayden said.
Hayden talked about Virat Kohli achievement’s as a batter and skipper and also said that Babar Azam is a quick learner and has a lot of control when batting. He added that ability to consistently react to the ball is second to none.
“Kohli has achieved a lot more as a world-class batsman and had also led the Indian team with distinction in all formats. Babar is still young as a captain but from what I have seen he is learning every day and he is a quick learner.
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“I think I see Babar has a lot of control when batting and he has a solid temperament. Just to give you an insight into that talent, his ability to consistently react to the ball is second to none from what I've seen,” he said.
Matthew Hayden further talk about Babar Azam’s qualities as a batter and said that his ability to quickly pick up the line and the length of the ball is quicker and can remain neutral.
“That is the mark of someone that is a very fine player. I think his consistency stems from these attributes: the way he reacts quickly and how quickly he learns things.
“His reaction time and his ability to play a consistent version of his best self means he doesn't have to have all the innovations, he doesn't have to be striking with any increase or decrease in his temperament. He can remain neutral," he said.
(PTI Inputs)
