Babar Azam is undoubtedly one of the modern greats of the game, carrying the hopes of Pakistan on his shoulders. But recently, he stirred the pot when asked to rank the legendary "Fab Four" of cricket. While he showed immense respect, his ranking for the red-ball format placed the Indian legend Virat Kohli second from the bottom.
First, let's talk about the "Fab Four." This term refers to the four batting pillars of this generation: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. They are often grouped together because of their elite consistency. However, any cricket fan will tell you that this debate is only somewhat relevant when we are talking about Test cricket.
Why? Because when it comes to white-ball cricket, whether it’s T20s or 50-over matches, the "Fab Four" aren't even close to equals. In limited-overs formats, the gap between Virat Kohli and the rest of the group is massive. As the saying goes, the difference is as big as the one between "darkness and sunlight." While the others are greats, Virat Kohli is a colossal titan in limited-overs cricket.
Babar Azam knows this. Despite playing for Pakistan, India’s fiercest rival, Babar has never been shy about his admiration for Kohli. Game recognises game. When speaking to Code Sports, Babar rightfully picked Virat Kohli as the number one batter across all formats combined. He acknowledged Kohli’s overall impact and called him the greatest of his generation.
Babar Azam picks Virat Kohli as the 2nd Worstin Test Cricket
However, the Test ranking was where things got spicy. Babar Azam placed Steve Smith at first and Joe Root at second. This pushed Kohli to the number three spot, technically the second worst in this exclusive club of four.
Why did he make this call? It wasn't about disrespect; it was about the harsh reality of red-ball stats. Steve Smith’s Bradman-esque average of 56.05 and his ability to bat for days give him the edge. Joe Root has been a run machine for England, carrying their batting lineup for years.
According to the reports, Babar’s decision also factored in that Virat Kohli faced a "lean patch in his later years" in Test cricket compared to the others. It was a cricketing opinion based on pure red-ball dominance, even if Kohli remains the King of the sport overall.
