Indian spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has stirred the cricketing community with his remarks on the ongoing debate regarding the batting prowess of star Pakistan batter Babar Azam and Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, Ashwin suggested that the two should not be mentioned in the same breath, asserting Kohli's dominance in the discussion.

Ashwin's comments come at a time when Babar is out of form and has been rested from the remaining home series against England. The all-rounder expressed confidence in Babar's ability to return to form but emphasized that the comparison with Kohli is not justified.

"Definitely, if he is given a chance, he will score runs. If there is class, that is okay. I feel we should end this debate once and for all. First of all, across the border, Babar Azam and Virat Kohli shouldn't be mentioned in the same line," Ashwin said.

While acknowledging Babar's talent, Ashwin was clear about his admiration for Kohli, stating, "I am very sorry, I really rate Babar Azam as an outstanding player, but Virat Kohli's credentials are something else. Across terrains, across times, across pressure situations, the kind of heists he has done, no one has done that in world cricket. As far as I know, at this point, if anyone comes close, it is Joe Root in Test cricket."

Kohli's illustrious career speaks volumes. The 35-year-old has amassed 27,041 runs in 535 international matches at an average of 53.23, including 80 centuries and 140 fifties, with a best score of 254. He has led his team to the pinnacle of international cricket, securing victories in the ICC U19 World Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, and ICC T20 World Cup, solidifying his status as one of the game's greats.

On the other hand, Babar, who debuted in international cricket in 2015, finds himself at a crossroads in his career. With 13,836 runs in 294 matches at an average of 47.54, he has made significant strides but is still not at Kohli's level. His ODI stats are impressive—5,729 runs in 117 ODIs at an average of 56.72, with 19 centuries—but the current form has been a cause for concern. Babar's last 50-plus score in Test cricket came back in December 2022, and he has struggled recently, averaging just 20.70 in his last 17 Test innings.