In todays highly anticipated high intensity cricket match, India and Pakistan are set to face off in their first one-day international encounter since the 2019 ODI World Cup. Pakistan, one of the competitive team, started the tournament with a commanding victory over Nepal and now eagerly awaits their clash with their arch-rivals at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Fans have been buzzing with excitement in the lead-up to this pivotal match, drawing inevitable comparisons between India’s Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s Babar Azam. However, the Pakistan skipper has put an end to these comparisons by emphasizing the mutual respect between them and pointing out the age difference.
Addressing the often-discussed topic of comparisons and the Indian batting maestro, Azam stated, “The debate should be left to the fans. I don’t want to comment on it. Everybody has their point of view. There should be mutual respect. He’s older than me, and I have been taught to respect our elders, regardless of their country of origin.”
Azam also revealed, “I have learned a lot from him. In 2019, I talked to him, and he provided me with valuable guidance. He has been helpful. I can’t go into the details, but there is a strong mutual understanding among players from all countries, not just India.”
Interestingly, Virat Kohli reciprocated the admiration for Babar Azam during a recent conversation, going as far as to say that the Pakistani batter is possibly the best batsman in the world currently.
Kohli expressed, “The first interaction I had with him was at the 2019 World Cup after the game in Manchester. I observed a lot of respect from him from day one, and that hasn’t changed. He is probably the top batsman in the world right now across formats, performing consistently, and rightfully so. He possesses incredible talent, and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.”
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly await this marquee clash between India and Pakistan, it’s heartening to witness such mutual respect and admiration between two of the game’s finest talents, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam. The match promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans on both sides of the border and around the cricketing world.