Virat Kohli Vs Babar Azam: Mohammad Hafeez Questions The 'King' Title

Pakistan suffered a six-wicket defeat against India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. The much-anticipated performance of Babar Azam fell short, as he was dismissed for just 23 runs off 26 balls by Hardik Pandya. In contrast, Virat Kohli played a match-winning knock, scoring a century off 111 balls, leading India to victory.

Mohammad Hafeez Criticizes Babar Azam

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez openly criticized Babar Azam after his poor performance against India. He stated that Babar does not deserve the title of ‘king’ in modern cricket, as he has not delivered consistently in crucial matches. Instead, he believes Virat Kohli is the real king due to his dominance across all conditions.

“Babar Azam is not the true king; it is Virat Kohli. Look at his performances—he has dominated all over the world.”

Comparison With Inzamam-ul-Haq

Hafeez also compared Babar Azam with former Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq. He pointed out that Inzamam often rescued Pakistan in difficult matches, something Babar has failed to do, especially against India. He also highlighted that Babar has not won a single game against India in ten years and has no ‘Player of the Series’ awards in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).

“Forget about winning or losing; you should aim to be the player of the series.”

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Struggles

Pakistan’s campaign in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is in serious trouble. The team has lost both of its Group A matches, leaving them on the verge of an early exit. Their only hope now depends on favorable results from other teams.

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Upcoming Match: Pakistan vs Bangladesh

Pakistan’s final Group A match will be against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi. A win might not be enough, as their qualification now depends on external factors.

Babar Azam struggled again in a high-pressure game, scoring only 23 runs.
Virat Kohli proved his dominance with a match-winning century.
Mohammad Hafeez questioned Babar’s leadership and big-match performances.
Pakistan is at risk of early elimination from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh match on February 27 is crucial for their survival.

Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Record So Far

Match	Opponent	Result
1	India	Lost (by 6 wickets)
2	TBD	Lost
3	Bangladesh	Upcoming (Feb 27)

Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan’s best batters, but his failure in crucial matches has led to criticism. Virat Kohli’s consistency makes him a true cricketing legend, while Pakistan needs significant improvement to stay competitive in major tournaments.

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