Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. Asia and Australia are the two continents with the most successful cricket teams. Particularly in Asia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have produced some extraordinary cricketers over the last few decades.

Talking about extraordinary cricketers, many fans consider Virat Kohli as the greatest batsman of the modern era. The right-handed batsman from India owns many records across formats. Almost every upcoming batsman dreams to become like Kohli. Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam is someone, who is considered by many fans as a player who could match Kohli’s numbers.

Babar Azam has been very consistent in all three formats. Hence, the Pakistan team management has elected him as the team’s skipper in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

In this article, we will have a look at the five records of Kohli that Babar could break in the coming years: –

1. Fastest to 8,000 ODI runs

Babar Azam has played 77 ODI matches for the Pakistan cricket team. The 26-year-old batsman has aggregated 3,580 runs at a magnificent batting average of 55.94. Babar has recorded 12 centuries and 16 fifties in the 75 ODI innings he has batted in so far. His numbers are excellent in the 50-overs format.

Also, Azam’s strike rate in ODIs is 87.90. These statistics hint that he could break Virat Kohli’s record for being the fastest batsman to score 8,000 ODI runs. Virat Kohli had achieved this record in June 2017. The Indian cricket team captain took 175 innings to touch the 8,000-run milestone.

Babar Azam requires 4,420 runs in the next 99 innings to shatter Virat Kohli’s record. If one considers his current average of 55.94, Azam could easily break this record. It will be interesting to see if the Pakistan captain could better Kohli’s achievement. Looking at his recent performances in ODI cricket, it is highly likely that he would touch the 8,000-run milestone inside 175 ODI innings.

2. Most Test double centuries as a captain

Virat Kohli had not scored a single double century in his career before he became the Indian Test team’s captain. After that, Kohli smashed seven double hundreds in Test cricket. He recorded his maiden Test double hundred against the West Indies cricket team at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium in 2016.

Next, he scored double centuries at home against New Zealand, England, and Bangladesh. In the 2017 home series versus Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli recorded back-to-back double tons. Last year, Kohli registered his best score of 254* against the South African cricket team at the MCA Stadium.

Pakistan recently elected Babar Azam as their captain in Test cricket. Like Kohli, Azam could register a double century in the game’s most extended format. Babar’s highest score in first-class cricket is 266. Thus, he has the ability to play a big inning and the fans can back him to break Virat Kohli’s record in Test cricket.

3. Fastest to reach 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year

Virat Kohli has earned the tag of ‘Run Machine’ because of his unbelievable consistency in all formats. Virat holds the record for the fastest batsman to 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year. He became the new holder of this record in October 2018. Kohli scored 1,000 ODI runs in 2018 in just eleven innings.

Before him, South African opener Hashim Amla held this record. Amla had scored 1,000 runs in 15 ODI innings during the 2010 calendar year. Virat Kohli was in red-hot form in 50-over cricket during the 2018 calendar year. He destroyed the South African bowling attack in South Africa and had a decent series against England.

He breached the 1,000-run milestone in the home ODI series against the West Indies cricket team. Babar Azam has proved he can score runs in any conditions. So, if he gets his form right from the first series of the calendar year, he could break Virat Kohli’s record of the fastest batsman to 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year.

4. Most ODI centuries as a captain in a calendar year

Apart from being the fastest to 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year, Virat Kohli also holds the record for the most ODI hundreds by a captain in a calendar year. In 2017 and 2018, Kohli scored six ODI centuries each. He had a mind-boggling average of 133.56 in ODI cricket during the 2018 calendar year.

Babar Azam made his ODI debut in 2015 and in 2017, he ended the year with four ODI centuries. Statistics show that Babar has the potential to score more than six centuries if he plays more ODI matches in a calendar year. The 2023 World Cup will happen in India, and 2023 could be the year when Babar could break Virat Kohli’s record.

Most of the pitches in India are great for batting. Also, the subcontinental conditions will assist Babar Azam. He will play at least nine ODI matches in the World Cup. There will also be a bilateral ODI series. Hence, 2023 will offer Babar Azam an opportunity to break Virat Kohli’s record.

5. Most ODI centuries in run chases

Another tag that Virat Kohli has earned in ODI cricket is the ‘Chase Master.’ The Indian cricket team has won a majority of their matches while chasing a target when Kohli gets going. Virat Kohli has aggregated 7,149 runs at an average of 68.09 in the second innings of ODI cricket.

Kohli’s strike rate in the second innings of ODIs is 94.46, while he has recorded 26 centuries in run-chases. He holds the record for the most ODI centuries in run chases. Babar Azam has scored three centuries in the second innings of ODI matches at a brilliant batting average of 51.13.

Azam needs 24 centuries more to surpass Virat Kohli’s record. While Virat can still score a few ODI centuries in run-chases, Babar has more years of cricket left in him. Thus, these are the five records of Kohli that could be broken by Babar Azam.