Kamran Akmal believes Babar Azam can break Virat Kohli’s 50 ODI centuries record

Former India captain and the modern-day great Virat Kohli shattered the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in ODI cricket during the World Cup 2023 first semifinal against New Zealand. Kohli’s 50th ton in the format marked a historic moment in his illustrious career, reaffirming his status as one of the modern greats.

However, the spotlight quickly shifted to Pakistan‘s Babar Azam, as former cricketer Kamran Akmal voiced his belief that one of the top three batters, particularly backing Babar, could challenge Kohli’s newly minted record. He also named India’s young sensation Shubman Gill who can break Kohli’s record.

“Only top 3 batters can break the record of 50 ODI centuries. Middle-order players won’t be able to do it. We have Babar Azam who can do it as he bats in the top three. India also have Shubman Gill who can break the record,”

Babar Azam resigned as Pakistan’s captain across all formats

Despite this optimism, Babar faced disappointment in the ongoing ODI World Cup. Not only did Pakistan fail to reach the semifinals, but Babar himself couldn’t register a single century in the tournament. Accumulating a total of 320 runs in nine matches, the right-handed batter managed four fifties at a strike rate of 82.90. 

Babar frequently draws comparisons with Kohli, with critics suggesting his success comes primarily against weaker teams. Adding a surprising turn to his World Cup journey, Babar’s decision to step down from captaincy across formats raised eyebrows. The PCB has appointed Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi as the Test and T20I captains, respectively.

Will this transition bring out the best in his batting prowess? Only time will tell as fans eagerly watch Babar’s journey after the World Cup, hoping to witness the resurgence of the batting maestro.

In the ever-changing cricketing scenario, the pursuit of supremacy in ODI centuries persists, with Kohli leading the charge and Babar emerging as a potential contender for the revered record. Yet, with Babar currently holding 19 ODI centuries, the timeline for his approach toward Kohli’s milestone adds an intriguing dimension to the narrative.