‘Rohit Sharma Way Better Than Virat Kohli And Babar Azam- Ex-Pakistan Cricketer

India captain Rohit Sharma has been dubbed better than both legend Virat Kohli and new icon Babar Azam by former Pakistan cricketer Abdur Rauf ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The tournament is set to get underway on February 19 with the Men in Green taking on New Zealand in Karachi.

Abdur Rauf addressed the ongoing discussion and similarities between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 start. His audacious claim about the top batters in world cricket right now shocked many.

The former Pakistani cricket player named Babar Azam an excellent best when in form and commended Virat Kohli's class, consistency, and ability to handle pressure. However, he ranked Rohit Sharma as his personal favorite, placing him higher than the two.

Rohit Sharma ranked above Virat Kohli and Babar Azam

Notably, all these players have been struggling to score runs for a long time, but Rohit Sharma had shown glimpses of his form with a stunning 119 off 90 balls against England.

“Virat Kohli has no comparison. His class, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure set him apart. Babar Azam, when in form, is exceptional. But personally, my favorite batsman [batter] is Rohit Sharma. I believe Rohit is currently the best batsman [batter] in world cricket. He is way better than Virat and Babar,” Rauf told Times of India.

After scoring his final ODI century against Nepal in the Asia Cup 2023, Babar Azam is yet to find his best form, but Virat Kohli followed up with a solid 52 from 55 balls in the following game.

Abdur Rauf predicts winner of India v Pakistan match

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will take place in Dubai on February 13 and include a high-stakes match between India and Pakistan, is keenly anticipated by fans worldwide. Everyone is talking about the eagerly anticipated match, and predictions are coming in from all directions.

Abdur Rauf, however, denied selecting the Titans' opponent in Dubai, claiming that this competition is always surprising. The former bowler for Pakistan, however, claimed that while India appeared to have an advantage a month ago, Jasprit Bumrah's absence has since altered the situation.

“You can never predict the outcome of an India vs Pakistan match. It’s always a high-pressure game. It’s not just India vs Pakistan; fans from all over the world are invested in this contest. Both teams are strong, so making a prediction is difficult. A month ago, if you had asked me, I would have said India had the upper hand, but with Bumrah in the squad. With his absence, it’s much harder to call,” Rauf stated.

Rauf picks title contenders

Rauf ignored his home team Pakistan, and even India and picked the Black Caps as the strongest favourite to win the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“New Zealand is my top pick; they are a well-balanced, experienced side with a strong batting line-up, quality bowlers, and good spinners. More importantly, they have a good understanding of their game plans, which gives them an edge over other teams,” he signed off.

New Zealand will clash with Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opening match.

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