Star England bowler chooses Virat Kohli over Babar Azam as tougher batter to bowl In pressure games

England spinner Adil Rashid names Virat Kohli the more challenging batter compared to Babar Azam, citing Kohli’s record in chases and ability to shift pressure in high-stakes matches.

Virat Kohli (Image | BCCI on X)

The debate over who stands taller between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam has long fascinated cricket fans. Recently, England’s experienced leg-spinner Adil Rashid added his voice, making it clear that he finds Kohli the more difficult batter to bowl to. His reasoning was not just about skill, but about the circumstances in which Kohli often performs, the tight chases and crunch situations that separate the good from the great.

Speaking in a candid discussion, Rashid explained that while both Kohli and Babar are world-class, bowling to the Indian maestro feels more daunting because of his ability to soak up pressure and then flip the momentum.

"For me, who I found more difficult to bowl to would be Kohli purely just because of the game situations firstly. He can put pressure back on the opposition. not only by hitting fours and sixes but you know you need to get him out because if he is chasing, if he stays for 10-15 overs it's going to be the game. So you think lets get him out early. 70-80% percent of the time if he is chasing, you know they will win the game. Babar is not known for that. So I would say Kohli was the harder one to bowl to for me," said Adil Rashid on the 'Beard Before Wicket' podcast.

Babar Azam, according to Rashid, commands respect with his elegant stroke play and consistency. However, he argued that Babar doesn’t quite create the same psychological impact as Kohli does during a chase. With Kohli, bowlers are constantly reminded of his reputation for finishing games, which can weigh heavily on the opposition’s mindset.

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Virat Kohli’s mental edge in run chases

For Rashid, the real differentiator is the mental edge Kohli carries in pressure scenarios. Time and again, Kohli has steered India home in run chases across formats, often against the toughest opponents. His ability to read the game, rotate strike, and then accelerate at the right time makes him a nightmare for bowlers. Rashid stressed that it’s not just the boundaries, but the way Kohli manipulates the field and keeps bowlers guessing that makes him harder to contain.

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Babar, on the other hand, has carved a reputation as Pakistan’s batting backbone, but Rashid suggested he is more comfortable when setting up innings rather than chasing steep targets. This distinction, in Rashid’s view, is what tilts the balance in Kohli’s favour as the more testing opponent in real match pressure.

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