Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam has acknowledged Virat Kohli's greatness. He described him as the greatest player of the current era, but gave him a poor ranking in Test cricket.

If there's one batsman who comes first in the current cricketing era, it's Virat Kohli. Cricket fans across the world, not just in India, consider him the greatest player of this generation. Now, Pakistan's star batsman, Babar Azam, has also endorsed Virat's greatness. However, Babar's opinion has an interesting twist. He ranks Virat Kohli at the top in white-ball cricket, but when it comes to Test cricket, he ranks him third in his "Fab 4."

Virat number 1 in white ball cricket

In an interview, Babar Azam ranked four of the greatest batsmen of the post-2010 era—Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson. According to Babar, Virat Kohli is the only player who has consistently impacted both ODI and T20 formats. Virat excels in all aspects—taking responsibility in big matches, scoring runs under pressure, and winning matches. This is why Babar considered him the best batsman in white-ball cricket.

The picture changed in Test cricket

When it comes to Test cricket, Babar's rankings change. He places Steve Smith at No. 1, Joe Root at No. 2, and Virat Kohli at No. 3. Babar believes Smith has performed exceptionally well in Test cricket across different countries and in challenging conditions. Root, on the other hand, has consistently held England's team together over the past few years with his consistent run-scoring.

Why is Virat at number three?

According to Babar Azam, Virat Kohli had a stellar Test career, but his form declined in the last few years. This period also led to his retirement from Test cricket, which impacted his ICC rankings. In contrast, Virat Kohli continues to score runs at a remarkable average and score centuries in ODI cricket, which demonstrates his class.

Strength of Smith and Root

Steve Smith is still known for his ability to play long innings against tough bowling attacks in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Joe Root has proven himself to be the backbone of England's batting in recent years, scoring runs both at home and abroad. This is why Babar ranked him ahead of Virat Kohli in Tests.

Why is Babar's opinion special?

This assessment is also significant because Babar Azam considers Virat Kohli his idol. Therefore, his ranking is considered balanced and honest. Virat may have retired from Test cricket, but his dominance in the white-ball format remains. This is why Babar considers Virat Kohli the greatest cricketer of his time.