World Cup: Is Babar Azam Pakistan's Virat Kohli?

It's not for nothing that Mohammad Babar Azam is touted as the next big thing in Pakistan cricket. The 24-year-old not only kept his team's semifinal hopes alive with a match-winning 101* against New Zealand, but also became the first middle order Pakistani batsman to score a century in 32 years—the last being Saleem Malik in 1987.

It was his 10th ODI hundred and it took him past 3,000 runs in the format. Before the encounter at Edgbaston against New Zealand, Lahore-born Babar Azam was the third joint-fastest batsman to reach 1,000 runs and the second joint-fastest to reach 2,000 runs in ODIs. Post the unbeaten 101-run knock, he became the second fastest batsman to reach 3,000 runs in 68 innings and 70 matches, a feat bettered only by Hashim Amla of South Africa in 57 innings and as many matches.

Babar Azam's crucial knock resulted in a prolific rise in his social media trends. But he is not a stranger to breaking records or crafting centuries. He is the fastest batsmen to reach seven centuries in ODIs—in 33 innings. Azam also holds the record of being the second youngest to score a hat-trick of ODI centuries.

Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower was effusive in Azam's praise after the New Zealand match. "He is very special. I believe he is going to be one of the best that Pakistan have ever produced. He's really hungry, is fit and still very young. I think he'll have a really good career if he keeps his feet on the ground, which I think he will,” Flower said.

Comparisons with Babar Azam's idol Virat Kohli was doing the rounds on social media as the young lad reached the 1,000-, 2,000- and 3,000-run milestones quicker than the Indian skipper. It took Azam just 21 innings to reach 1,000 ODI runs while Kohli took 24. He completed 2,000 runs in 45 innings while Kohli took 53 innings to do it, and finally Azam reached 3,000 runs in 68 innings while Kohli took seven more.

“He's got Virat's hunger. I think he could [match Virat Kohli] at some point in the future," Flower said when asked about the comparisons with Kohli.

Azam, however, was quick to dismiss the comparison with Kohli. “Don't compare me with Virat Kohli. He is a great batsmen and I am just a beginner.”

He said that he would rather like to be known as 'Babar Azam of Pakistan'.

Source