Difference between Virat Kholi and Steven Smith
Difference between Virat Kohli and Steven Smith

As everyone is familiar, India, Australia, and Pakistan are no strangers to worldwide cricket triumphs. All of these boast of intense batting potential. Best players of all time like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, and many more are or were a part of the Cricket teams of India, Pakistan, and Australia from time to time. These batsmen deserve profuse applause without any doubt, given their performances are upheld by super numbers and zero build-up. Here in this article, we will find the contrast in the careers of Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, and Babar Azam.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is an Indian cricketer. He was born on 5th November 1988 in Delhi. He is a right-handed batsman and an incidental right-arm medium pace bowler. Kohli’s first Test match was played in 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston. By 2013, he came to the first number for ODI batsmen in the ICC rankings for the very first time. He has found achievement in the Twenty20 matches, winning the title of “Man of the Tournament” in the ICC World Twenty-20 in2014 in Bangladesh. Soon thereafter, he turned into the top-positioned in the ICC rankings for T20 batsman.

Steven Smith

Steven Peter Devereux Smith was born on 2nd June 1989, and he is an Australian cricketer. Even though he was at first chosen for Australia as an all-rounder who could bowl right-arm leg turn, Smith now plays principally as a batsman. On 16 July 2015, he reached 936 in rating for Test batting, the tenth most astounding of all time. According to the rankings of ICC Player in November 2015, Smith stands in the 2nd position in test batting on the earth. As of November 2015, Smith is the second-positioned test batsman on the planet, as per the ICC Player Rankings. In 2015, he won the Allan Border Medal for being the best player in the Australian cricket team.

Babar Azam

Mohammad Babar Azam was born on 15 October 1994. He is a Pakistani cricketer. He was the captain of the Pakistan national team in Twenty20 internationals and also, the vice-captain in one-day international matches. He is a right-handed batsman. Azam is ranked number 1 on the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen. He plays as a ‘top-order’ batsman.

Batting Dynasties: Analyzing the Dominance of Three Generations

Here are some differences between these cricketers:

Representative

  • Virat Kohli is a representative of the Indian team.
  • Steven Smith is a representative of the Australian team.
  • Babar Azam is a representative of the Pakistan Cricket team.

Date of Birth

  • Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in India.
  • Steven Smith was born on June 2, 1989, in Australia.
  • Babar Azam was born on 15 October 1994, in Lahore, Pakistan.

Age:

  • Virat Kohli is 31 years old.
  • Steven Smith is 30 years old.
  • Babar Azam is 25 years old.

Test Matches

  • Virat Kohli has played 86 test matches so far, making 7240 runs. His average is 53.6 runs per match. He has scored 811 fours, 22 sixes, 22 fifties, and 27 centuries in test matches.
  • Steven Smith has played 73 test matches so far, making 7227 runs. His average is 62.8 runs per match. He has scored 799 fours, 42 sixes, 29 fifties, and 26 centuries in test matches.
  • Babar Azam has played 26 test matches so far, making 1850 runs. His average is 45.12 runs per match. He has scored 216 fours, 10 sixes, 13 fifties, and 5 centuries in test matches.

One day International Matches

  • Virat Kohli has played 248 ODIs so far, making 11867 runs. His average is 59.3 runs per match. He has scored 1116 fours, 122 sixes, 58 fifties, and 43 centuries in ODIs.
  • Steven Smith has played 125 ODIs so far, making 4162 runs. His average is 42.5 runs per match. He has scored 352 fours, 36 sixes, 29 fifties, and 26 centuries in ODIs.
  • Babar Azam has played 72 ODIs so far, making 3359 runs. His average is 54.2 runs per match. He has scored 289 fours, 31 sixes, 15 fifties, and 11 centuries in his ODI career.

International T20 Matches

  • Virat Kohli has played 30 T20 matches at international level. He has scored 258 fours, 76 sixes, and 24 fifties in his T20 career.
  • Steven Smith has played 21 international T20 matches. He has scored 59 fours, 16 sixes, and 4 fifties in his T20 career.
  • Babar Azam has played 38 international T20 matches. He has scored 146 fours, 21 sixes, and 13 centuries in his T20 career.

Bowling

  • Virat Kohlihas bowled in 86 test matches, 248 ODIs, 177 IPLs, and 81 T20Is. He has taken 12 wickets in total.
  • Steven Smith has bowled in 73 test matches, 125 ODIs, 81 IPLs, and 39 T20Is. He has taken 62 wickets in total.
  • Babar Azam has bowled in 26 test matches, 74 ODIs, and 38 T20Is.

Favorite Cricketer

  • Virat Kohli’s favorite cricketer is Herschelle Gibbs.
  • Steven Smith’s favorite cricketer is Ricky Ponting.
  • Azam’s favorite cricketer is AB de Villiers.

Cricket’s Modern Titans: The Distinctive Styles of Kohli, Smith, and Babar
The modern-day cricket landscape is ruled by three incredible batsmen who are the finest of their nation.

Virat Kohli a India’s run-machine. He born in 1988 in the national capital and chase-master image have established him as an international icon. With more than 11,000 ODI runs and a batting average of more than 59, Kohli’s appetite for centuries is the stuff of legend. His fitness routine changed cricket culture, leaving behind a generation of sports persons.

Steven Smith is the absolute definition of Australian technical skill and tenacity. Born a leg-spinner, Smith adapted into arguably the most technically correct batsman of his time. His unorthodox style and stunning Test average of 62.8 are signs of him being among the modern greats. Smith’s playing under conditions of pressure has attributed many Australian victories.

Babar Azam represents Pakistan’s new dawn in cricket. The youngest of the three brothers born in 1994, Babar marries old-fashioned technique with contemporary stroke-play. His quick ascension to the world’s top-ranked T20I batsman is a testament to his flexibility between formats. Spearheading Pakistan’s batting revolution, he is the hope of Pakistan’s future cricket.

Each of them brings something unique to world cricket. Kohli’s finisher skills as a chase captain enhance the value of limited-overs cricket. Smith’s game of patience and temperament make him an expert in Test cricket. Babar’s sweeping elegance and consistency in all forms of the game make him world cricket’s new star.

Their different approaches reflect their countries’ cricket philosophies. India’s approach, Australia‘s style, and Pakistan’s divine gifts are all embodied in these three new masters. Together, they form cricket’s golden generation, bending the game, and galvanizing millions of people around the globe.

Conclusion

Virat Kohli was a funky-looking teenager who shot to fame after leading India in the Under-19 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur in 2008. With his ‘bad-boy’ personality, Virat Kohli is an outcast but undoubtedly one of the best cricketers of all time. Steven Smith is considered the best batsman at present. He began his career as a potential leg-spinner and went through a lot of criticism during his early days after selection. With his diligence, he made his place among the shining stars of cricket. Babar Azam came into the limelight in early 2017 when he became the second quickest to score five ODI tons. He was drafted into the Pakistan Under-19 team for the 2010 World Cup. He was a skipper in 2012. His quick learning skills have raised him to the pedestal of the best Pakistani cricketer of 2019.

Who is best in your opinion?