In a surprising move, Pakistan’s cricket authorities dropped their star player, Babar Azam, from the team due to his ongoing poor form. This decision has shocked the cricket world, as it is not every day that a player of Babar’s stature gets excluded. Following a string of disappointing performances in Test matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) felt it was time for Babar to step away and regain his form in domestic cricket.
With this bold decision by the PCB, cricket fans are left wondering: Could the same happen to India’s Virat Kohli? Despite struggling with his form in the past, Kohli has never faced a similar exclusion from the team. Could BCCI ever take such a strong step, or is Kohli’s place too secure to be questioned?
Babar Azam’s Form Sparks Tough Call
Babar Azam, once Pakistan’s star player, has seen his form take a steep decline in the past year. Despite an impressive career average of over 54 in Test cricket, his performance in 2023 has been well below par. In 18 innings across 9 Test matches, Babar managed an average of just 21 runs per match. Even in the recent Multan Test against England, he scored a total of 35 runs in two innings on a flat pitch, highlighting his current struggles.
With the PCB forming a new selection committee, the decision to drop Babar was made swiftly. He has been asked to play domestic cricket to rediscover his form, with the Quaid-e-Azam tournament on the horizon. Despite being one of Pakistan’s most important players, the selectors did not hesitate to make the call. This has raised eyebrows, as players of Babar’s stature are rarely dropped so abruptly.
Comparing Kohli’s Slump in Form
Virat Kohli, much like Babar, has faced difficult phases in his career. From 2020 to 2023, Kohli’s form in international cricket was underwhelming. His batting averages plummeted to 19.33 in 2020 and hovered around 26.50 to 28.21 in 2023, sparking debates about his place in the team. Fans and critics alike questioned whether the BCCI should consider dropping him during this tough period.
Despite this, Kohli continued to be selected for every series, and the BCCI never made a move to remove him from the squad. His stature in Indian cricket is immense, and the board seemed reluctant to sideline a player who has brought so much success to the national team. Kohli’s ability to draw crowds and his influence on Indian cricket is vast, making him almost untouchable when it comes to team selection.
Can BCCI Drop Kohli Like PCB Dropped Babar?
The situation with Babar Azam begs the question—could the BCCI make a similar decision about Virat Kohli? While Kohli did struggle with his form, there are significant differences between the way the two cricket boards operate. Babar’s exclusion shows that the PCB is willing to take bold, performance-driven decisions, but the BCCI operates differently.
In India, a player like Kohli holds an iconic status. His influence on Indian cricket goes beyond just his performance on the field. Kohli is one of the most marketable athletes in the world, and his presence boosts the team’s global appeal. The BCCI, which is one of the richest and most powerful cricket boards, has never shown any indication that they would consider dropping Kohli, even during his lean patches.
Kohli’s Influence and Status
Kohli’s standing in Indian cricket is incomparable. While his form has dipped at times, his leadership, experience, and track record ensure that he remains a vital part of the team. Even during his struggles, there was always the belief that Kohli would regain his form, which he did eventually. His century drought ended in 2022, and he bounced back with strong performances, reaffirming his place in the team.
Another aspect is that Kohli, unlike Babar, can choose to take breaks or opt out of certain series for personal reasons. But the idea of the BCCI dropping Kohli purely based on form seems highly unlikely. His contribution to Indian cricket is seen as too valuable, and the board has consistently backed him, even during his worst performances.
A Tale of Two Cricket Boards
The decision to drop Babar Azam shows that the PCB is willing to make tough calls when necessary. However, the Indian cricket board operates differently, placing more emphasis on the stature and influence of a player like Kohli. Babar’s exclusion, while surprising, indicates that no player is untouchable in Pakistan cricket, but in India, a player of Kohli’s magnitude enjoys a level of protection that makes such a move improbable.
While it will be interesting to see how Pakistan fares without Babar in the team, the chances of Virat Kohli facing a similar exclusion from the Indian team seem slim. His status, both on and off the field, ensures that he remains a key figure in Indian cricket, even during periods of poor form.
