Aakash Chopra caused a bit of a flutter online by stating that Virat Kohli can no longer be considered in the same level as the rest of the Fab 4
Virat Kohli’s performance, particularly in Test cricket, has been a subject of discussion for a considerable period. The ex-captain of the Indian cricket team has witnessed a significant decline in his average since 2019. In his previous 25 matches, Kohli managed to score only 1277 runs, averaging 29.69 with just one century during this period. Although he achieved that century in one of his recent matches, his subsequent scores have not contributed to improving his overall numbers. As a result, former opener Aakash Chopra expressed his opinion that Kohli can no longer be considered on par with Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson, who are often referred to as the “Fab four” of Test batting since the term was coined by New Zealand’s Martin Crowe in 2014. However, Smith, Root, and Williamson have displayed consistency, if not improvement, in their performance since 2019, while Kohli’s statistics have declined.
Chopra’s statement triggered a heated debate on Twitter, with some suggesting that Pakistan captain Babar Azam could replace Kohli in that esteemed group. Adding fuel to the fire, former England opener Nick Knight proclaimed that Babar is currently the top performer in world cricket, dubbing him the “Fab One.”
The tweet has been hailed and slammed by many on the social media platform.
Babar has consistently been rated among the best Test batters in the world since he made his debut in October 2016. In 47 matches, Babar has scored 3696 runs at an average of 48.63 with nine centuries and 26 fifties. He remains much junior to Smith, Williamson, Root and Kohli. While Williamson has played 94 Tests and maintains an average of 54.89, Kohli, Smith and Root have all played over 100 matches. While Kohli’s average was over 50 for much of his career, it has now gone down to 48.72. Root, who has been a sensational patch of form since 2016, has an average of 50.16 in 133 matches while Smith averages a whopping 58.94 in 100 Tests.
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