ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s all-format captain Babar Azam on Sunday described Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli among the “best” batters in world cricket today, saying that he draws inspiration from their ability to perform under pressure.
The two Indian batters have been in form in the five World Cup matches that India have played so far. Kohli leads the Indian side with 354 runs from five matches at an impressive average of 118. He has scored one century and three fifties.
Indian skipper Sharma has scored 311 runs from five games at an average of 62.20. He has scored one century and one half-century but his runs off the bat have come at a much faster pace than Kohli’s. Compared to Kohli’s strike rate of 90.53, Sharma has maintained a strike rate of 133.47.
“Kane Williamson, Rohit Sharma and [Virat] Kohli, I admire them because they are one of the best and top players,” Azam told Indian TV channel Star Sports.
Azan, who is the top-ranked ODI batter in the world currently, said what impresses him the most about all three batters was the way they performed under pressure to pull their teams out of crisis situations.
“They know how to handle the situation and read the conditions very well, that’s why they are the best and it feels very good to watch them, the way they bat,” he said.
Azam has not been in good form of late. He has scored 207 runs from six matches so far in this year’s World Cup at an average of 34.50 and scored only three half-centuries.
Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for the semifinal stages of the World Cup decreased further on Friday when the 1992 World Cup champions lost to South Africa by a wicket in Chennai.
Azam’s side came into the match with three defeats on the trot against India, Australia and Afghanistan.
