PAK vs SA: How Babar Azam Can Learn from Virat Kohli to Tackle Mental Stress
Babar Azam's last international century was on 30 August 2023, when he scored 151 against Nepal in the Asia Cup. Since then, he has gone 81 innings without a hundred.
Comparing performances shows that Virat Kohli handled his slump better than Babar is managing his current form.
- Kohli averaged higher across all three formats.
- He recorded more scores above fifty, indicating consistent contributions even without centuries.
- Babar has struggled to convert promising starts into big innings, frequently reaching twenties and thirties but failing to build further.
Kohli's T20I performance during his slump was especially impressive. He averaged over 50, scoring 1,012 runs in 28 innings—a remarkable feat considering centuries are rare in the shortest format.
This steady performance across formats helped Kohli regain form, culminating in a century of 122 against Afghanistan in the 2022 Asia Cup.
“What made Kohli’s phase different was his ability to remain relevant despite the lack of hundreds. He kept contributing with vital fifties, played tough innings under pressure, and maintained his fitness and intent.”
In contrast, Babar appears to struggle both technically and mentally. The burden of expectations, captaincy pressures, and constant comparisons to Kohli have affected his performance.
Author’s Summary
Babar Azam can learn from Kohli's resilience by focusing on consistent contributions and mental strength rather than fixating solely on centuries during tough patches.