'This too shall pass': Pakistan skipper Babar Azam backs out-of-form Virat Kohli

15.07.2022 - 08:59 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has come out in support of star Indian batter Virat Kohli after the latter's poor run of form. Babar took to his Twitter account and wrote, "This too shall pass.

Stay strong. #ViratKohli," along with a photo of him and Kohli. After missing the first ODI against England with a groin injury, Kohli made just 16 in the second match, which India lost by 100 runs at Lord's.

India's T20I squad to take on the West Indies is also missing Kohli's name, with Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal rested for the same tour.

With a T20 World Cup around the corner and World Test Championship points needed to keep up in the race for next year's final, Kohli's place in the team is being debated by fans and former legends.

cricket Virat Kohli Babar Azam Rohit Sharma Australia India Pakistan

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Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been in stunning form with the bat across formats, but on Thursday, he found himself involved in a horrendous mix-up that led to the run-out of teammate Fawad Alam. The incident happened on Day 5 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium. Fawad Alam drove a ball towards mid-on and took off for a single, but Babar Azam at the non-striker's end was caught ball-watching, and when he realised Fawad was half-way down the pitch, he first looked to start off for the run but then sent his partner back.

Babar Azam Achieves Another High, Now Only Player To Be In Top-Three Across Formats

Babar Azam is currently one of the best batters across formats in world cricket. The Pakistan cricket team captain recently got praised by none other that former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting. "I saw him up close and personal a couple of years ago out here in a Test series against Australia and I said it then, I thought the sky was the limit for this guy as far as Test match batting (was concerned) and, if anything, he's probably got better and better in the last couple of years," Ponting said on the ICC Review. Now, Babar has achieved yet another high.

"Probably Got Better And Better": Ex-Australia Captain On Babar Azam

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has praised Pakistan captain Babar Azam for his batting. Ponting said that Babar has "got better and better" in the last couple of years. While lauding Babar and his progress in the batting department, Ponting also said that Pakistan's chances in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia will be directly dependent on the right-handed batter's performance. He feels that the side cannot win the mega event in case Babar fails to perform with the bat.

"Sarfaraz Ahmed Was An Active Captain Whereas Babar Azam...": Pakistan Star Compares The Two

Babar Azam's career graph is on the rise. He is currently the world No. 1 batter in ODIs and T20I in ICC rankings. In Tests, he is ranked No. 4. "As a player it's a dream to become the No. 1 in all formats and, for that, you have to focus and put in hard work. It's not like if you are the top player in one or two formats, you go easy," the official website of ICC quoted Babar as saying recently. "If you are to become No.1 in all three, you have to keep yourself fit and on track. There is back-to-back cricket and the gap is less. For that, you need to be extra fit. It's something I am preparing for. It's going well in white-ball and hopefully, I will be able to do well in Tests too," he added.

"Should Be The Captain As Long As He Plays": Pakistan Great On Babar Azam

Legendary batter Javed Miandad was all praise for Pakistan captain Babar Azam, saying that the star batter should lead the team until he retires. Earlier this week, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Babar starred with the bat in the first innings, hitting a brilliant century to rescue Pakistan's sinking ship. While analysing Pakistan's win, former Pakistan captain Miandad highlighted that Babar has led the team from the front, saying that the team is playing more as a unit under his leadership.

Watch: Babar Azam And Co Celebrate Pakistan's First Test Win vs SL With Special Cake

It was a momentous occasion for Pakistan as Abdullah Shafique hit an epic 160 to anchor his team's record chase of 342 at Galle as the tourists won a thrilling opening Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The opener capped his marathon display with the winning runs in the final session on day five, jumping for joy and pumping his fist as Pakistan triumphed by four wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took a match haul of nine wickets but his efforts were in vain as the visitors battled past the previous best chase in Galle of 268 by Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2019.