Babar Azam's 9th Test Ton Takes His Average Above Kohli's For First Time

Babar Azam has taken his Test average past the 50-mark for the first time in his career. In the process, Babar's Test average also went past Virat Kohli for the first time.

Pakistan cricket team captain and also one of the finest batters in world cricket at present, Babar Azam is a true gem with the bat. Shunning a poor run of form with the bat, the superstar batter demoralised New Zealand bowlers with his resolute batting in the first Test on Monday. On Day 1, Babar ran riot with the bat, scoring 161 off 277 balls as Pakistan put 317 runs on the board for the loss of 5 wickets. in the process, Babar also achieved a new milestone in Test cricket as his average went above the 50-run mark. It was also the first time that Babar's average in the longest format of the game went above Virat Kohli's.

Babar Azam and Virat Kohli have often been compared to each other ever since the Pakistani batter started making waves with his blistering performances. Against New Zealand, Babar came out to bat when Pakistan had lost the first two wickets for just 19 runs. The Pakistan skipper first formed a fine little partnership of 62 runs with Saud Shakeel for the 4th wicket. Later, Babar and former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed put in 194 runs for the 5th wicket, before the latter departed for a well-made 86 on his return.

At stumps on Day 1, Babar remained unbeaten on 161, putting Pakistan in a commanding position after the end of play on the first day. Babar concluded the day with his 9th Test ton and a number of new milestones to his name.