Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has showered high praise upon Pakistan's national team captain, Babar Azam, labeling him as the finest batsman on the international stage today.
In an interview with India’s local sports channel, Gambhir asserted that he ranks Babar Azam above the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, and David Warner.
He emphasized Azam's distinctive ability to deploy a diverse range of batting shots, which sets him apart in the cricketing fraternity.
"Babar Azam is, without a doubt, the best batsman in the world right now. I rate him above all the greats like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, and David Warner," said Gambhir.
"What makes Babar truly exceptional is his extensive repertoire of batting shots. He's the only batsman in the world who possesses such a rich array of strokes."
Gambhir went on to laud Azam's impeccable timing and patience at the crease, highlighting his ability to spend extended periods at the wicket.
"Babar Azam has an abundance of batting time, a quality not seen in many contemporary batsmen. His calm and composed demeanor allows him to accumulate runs steadily," Gambhir stated.
He further added, “Babar Azam can set the World Cup on fire!”
.@GautamGambhir will eagerly watch out for @babarazam258's performance this #CWC2023. 👀
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 23, 2023
Will Babar prove to be the BEST against the rest on the BIGGEST stage?#WorldCupOnStar#Cricket pic.twitter.com/CwccE3r5JI
