According to International Cricket Council’s [ICC] new rankings, Pakistani batting icon Babar Azam has come on number 2 in the rankings table, proving to be a sufficient opponent for Kohli, Indian captain ranked as number 1.

Babar Azam has succeeded in acquiring 837 points, not far from Kohli’s ranking which sum up to 868 points.

Babar Azam, the ambitious 26-year-old Pakistani cricketer has acquired the honour of being the only Pakistani batsman being recognized in the top 10 of ICC’s rankings. 

Babar Azam is ranked number 3 in T20Is in the world rankings.

But that is not it. Babar Azam is also considered to be the sixth-best batsman in the world, in the Test format. 

"Babar Azam (837 rating points) is now the second-best batsman in ICC ODI rankings and will have an opportunity to get close to, or even beat, the number one ranked Virat Kohli (868 points) in the upcoming series against South Africa," tweeted Mazher Arshad, cricket statistician.

https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1374636746588053506

https://twitter.com/MazherArshad/status/1374668037517873156