Virat Kohli has dominated world cricket, across formats, for the past decade. The Indian Test skipper led the red-ball rankings for several months and was ODI No 1 for 1258 days, before being dethroned by Pakistan’s Babar Azam. Under the 33-year-old Indian Test team were No 1 for five consecutive years. He has been leading the ‘Big four’ – Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith being the others – all through his international career. 

Well, Kohli seems to be facing tough competition. Not from the others in the ‘Big four’ group but it is Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has been challenging him across formats. The 27-year-old, arguably, has a cover drive, if not sweeter, as good as Kohli’s. Babar has been breaking records, piling runs and is the highest ranked T20I and ODI batsman currently. 

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Here are some of Virat Kohli’s records that are tough for Babar Azam to break:

1) Most runs in a single edition of a domestic league (franchise cricket):

Virat Kohli marched on to 973 runs in the 2016 IPL. The Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper scored at an average of 81.08 in 16 matches. He finished with four centuries that season. This is by far the highest score and an average for a player in the recognized franchise cricket. 

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Babar Azam doesn’t play IPL as of now. He represents the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League. He finished as the highest run-getter in the league’s 2020 edition, scoring 473 runs with an average of 59.12. However, 973 seems like a much bigger target. 

2) Most centuries in ODI run chases:

Virat Kohli has been nicknamed as the ‘chase master’ for a simple fact that he almost never goes wrong with chases, especially in the 50-over format. The Delhi-based cricketer has chased in 144 games and hit 26 centuries and 33 half-centuries. In total, Kohli has amassed 7149 runs while chasing at an average of 68.08. 

Meanwhile, Babar Azam has scored at an average of 51.12 in the second innings and has hit four centuries. His first innings statistics – 10 centuries at an average of 62.10 – are much better. 

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3) Fastest to 12,000 ODI runs:

Virat Kohli became the the fastest player to reach 12,000 ODI runs. He achieved the feat in 242 innings, ahead of legends like  Sachin Tendulkar (300) and Ricky Ponting (314). Kohli  has played 254 matches and has an average of 59.07. 

Babar Azam, having played 83 ODIs, has scored 3985 runs at an average of 56.93.