‘Way better than Virat and Babar’ – Former Pakistan pacer rates Rohit Sharma as best batter in the world

Former Pakistan pacer Abdur Rauf spoke to the Times of India (TOI) where the main focus was the upcoming Champions Trophy. The 46-year-old touched upon a variety of topics and one of it was to name the best batter in the world. According to Rauf, the mantle belongs to Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. 

When asked by TOI about the constant comparisons between Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, the former pacer said “Both are great players, but in my opinion, Virat Kohli has no comparison. His class, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure set him apart. Personally, my favourite is Rohit Sharma. I believe Rohit is currently the best batter in world cricket. Way better than Virat and Babar."

Rohit endured poor form with the bat for much of 2024 and finally showed glimpses of his old form against England. The 37-year-old scored his 32nd ODI ton for India during the second ODI in Cuttack. The upcoming Champions Trophy is a huge chance for India’s skipper not only to win the title but lead the team front the front with the bat in hand. 

‘Difficult to predict the outcome ‘- Abdur Rauf on IND vs PAK CT25 clash

All the focus of cricketing fans across the world is on the upcoming India vs Pakistan clash on Sunday. The massive encounter is set to be played in Dubai and former Pakistani pacer Abdur Rauf was asked to name the winner of the game by TOI. 

Rauf said “You can never predict the outcome of an India vs Pakistan match. it’s always a high-pressure game. it’s not just India vs Pakistan, fans from all over the world are invested in this contest. Both teams are strong, so making a prediction is difficult. A month ago, if you had asked me I would have said India had the upper hand but with Bumrah in the squad. With his absence, it’s much harder to call”. 

When asked to name his favourite to win the title, Rauf said “New Zealand is my top pick, they are a well-balanced, experienced side with a strong batting line-up, quality bowlers, and good spinners. More importantly, they have a good understanding of their game plans, which gives them an edge over other teams”