Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: Head to Head International Career Stats and Records
The comparison between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam is one of the biggest and most talked-about player rivalries in modern cricket.
While Virat Kohli represents an era of unparalleled dominance and sustained excellence—and currently holds the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings—Babar Azam remains Pakistan's premier run-machine and has recently surpassed Kohli in the number of half-centuries scored in T20 Internationals.
Key Differences & Summary
Both players have played several fierce contests against each other in cricket history.
- Difference in experience: Virat Kohli made his international debut in 2008, a full seven years before Babar Azam (2015). Kohli is currently in the final phase of his career (having retired from T20Is in 2024 and Test cricket in May 2025), whereas 31-year-old Babar Azam is in the prime of his career.
- Dominance in ODIs: Kohli holds significant dominance in the ODI format. He is far ahead of Babar, boasting 54 centuries compared to Babar's 20. However, Babar holds the Pakistani national record for the most centuries, and his career average is an impressive 53.43.
- Consistency in T20Is: Babar Azam has surpassed Virat Kohli in terms of total runs in T20Is, with 4,596 runs to his name. He also holds the impressive record for the highest number of 50+ scores in T20I history. Meanwhile, Kohli boasts an excellent average of 48.69 in this shortest format of the game.
The direct, format-by-format head-to-head career comparison highlights where each batsman stands:
Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam (International Records Comparison)
| Format / Metric | Virat Kohli (IND) | Babar Azam (PAK) | Winner / Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test Matches | 123 | 65 | — |
| Test Runs & Avg | 9,230 (Avg: 46.85) | 4,688 (Avg: 43.00) | Virat Kohli |
| Test Centuries (100s) | 30 | 9 | Virat Kohli |
| ODI Matches | 314 | 143 | — |
| ODI Runs & Avg | 14,941 (Avg: 58.59) | 6,626 (Avg: 53.43) | Virat Kohli |
| ODI Centuries (100s) | 54 | 20 | Virat Kohli |
| T20I Matches | 125 | 145 | — |
| T20I Runs & Avg | 4,188 (Avg: 48.69) | 4,596 (Avg: 38.94) | Babar Azam (Runs) / Virat Kohli (Avg) |
| Total International Runs | 28,359 | 15,910 | Virat Kohli |
| Total Centuries (100s) | 85 | 32 | Virat Kohli |
Last Updated on 12 September 2026
