Fans roast Babar Azam after first-ball duck on T20I return, draw ‘Kohli vs Babar’ comparisons

Babar Azam’s T20I comeback ended in disappointment as the former Pakistan captain was dismissed for a two-ball duck against South Africa in the series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, October 28.

Coming in at No. 3, Babar fell to Corbin Bosch, who induced a thick outside edge that went straight to Reeza Hendricks at cover. The early dismissal left Pakistan reeling in their chase of 195, with the home crowd stunned to see their star batter depart without scoring. His failure instantly triggered a wave of social media trolling, as fans drew unflattering comparisons with Indian great Virat Kohli. Many users mocked the “Kohli vs Babar” debate, claiming that the Pakistan batter has yet to show the same resilience and match-winning consistency as the Indian star.

Despite facing recent setbacks, Kohli was praised for bouncing back with a half-century against Australia after two consecutive ducks — a contrast fans were quick to highlight.

Babar, who was recalled to the T20I squad after Pakistan’s batting struggles in the Asia Cup, will have another chance to find form when the second T20I takes place in Lahore on Friday, October 31. The right-hander is also set to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025–26 for the Sydney Sixers, where he’ll be aiming to regain confidence ahead of Pakistan’s busy cricket calendar.