Babar Azam found himself at the centre of a tense off-field moment after firmly shutting down comparisons with Virat Kohli during a post-match press conference in the Pakistan Super League 2026.
The Peshawar Zalmi skipper, who led his side to a last-ball win over Hyderabad Kingsmen, appeared visibly frustrated when asked about his ability to finish games in comparison to Kohli.
Babar, who scored a steady 43 off 37 balls in the chase of 146 but wasn’t at the crease at the finish, didn’t hold back in his response.
“Finish these things. Keep these things to yourself. End the comparison and move on. It’s your misconception that I have not finished matches,” he said.
The exchange quickly went viral, once again putting the spotlight on the ever-present cross-border comparisons between two of modern cricket’s biggest names.
Widely regarded as Pakistan’s premier batter, Babar has long been praised for his consistency. However, his approach in T20 cricket, particularly around strike rate and finishing games, continues to divide opinion.
So far this season, Babar has scored 82 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 126.15, hitting 10 boundaries and one six.
On the other hand, Kohli, now retired from Tests and T20 Internationals, continues to make his mark in franchise cricket with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. He has already scored 97 runs in two matches this season, including an unbeaten 69 in a successful chase, striking at an impressive 173.21.
Back in the PSL, the match itself was a nail-biter.
Hyderabad Kingsmen, still searching for their first win, posted 145 after recovering from 34/4, thanks to a fighting 58 from Kusal Perera.
Zalmi’s chase was far from straightforward, as Hyderabad’s bowlers stretched the game to the final over. But with 14 needed off six balls, Iftikhar Ahmed held his nerve to guide Zalmi home, handing them their second win of the season.
In the end, it was a win for Babar’s side but the headlines belonged just as much to his words as his bat.