Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has shared his thoughts on the comparisons between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli, saying that it has done more harm than good for the Pakistan star. Jaffer, however, lauded Babar’s class and consistency, calling him a skilled batter. But he stressed that comparing him to Kohli at this stage of his career is unfair. Jaffer felt that such comparisons can put pressure on a player’s confidence and performance. He pointed out that the relentless spotlight from Pakistani media have contributed to Babar’s recent struggles.
"Babar is a good player, there is no doubt about it. He has also performed well. I obviously like him a lot as a player. But I just thought he was rated more than his limit. They started comparing him to Virat Kohli. He was made the king. And I think that was the reason (for his downfall)," Jaffer said in a video on X.
"People around you treat you like that. The media is calling you King Babar. Unnecessary comparison started with Virat. And I think that pressure started playing in his mind. He tried to be like Virat Kohli. He tried to play like how Virat used to in the Indian team. He tried to play like that. He tried to perform like that. Virat is Virat – one of the greatest players of this generation. So, I felt that the media hyped him too much. And from there, his downslide started," he added.
Jaffer, speaking on Babar's captaincy, said that Babar could have done more to build a stronger side.
“Plus, his captaincy. He didn’t build the team as he should have. Although he got the chances, he couldn’t perform as expected. Neither could he win consistently with his team. Although he played in the T20 World Cup final, the team was good. But I just thought, ‘He didn’t take Pakistan cricket to the top when he had the chance. But without a doubt, he is one of the finest batters of Pakistan of this generation," he said.