Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, picked out two standout batters Babar Azam and Virat Kholi from India and Pakistan, expecting big things from them in the upcoming 2024 cricket season.
With the curtains closing on the 2023 international cricket events, attention shifts to the future and what players might bring to the table.
In a video shared by the ICC, Nasser highlighted Babar Azam and Virat Kohli as the ones likely to shine in 2024.
Nasser particularly praised the Indian star, Virat Kohli, highlighting his incredible batting in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He mentioned how Kohli’s technical prowess was at its peak during some remarkable innings, emphasizing that this form suggests a positive mindset and great gameplay.
Kohli’s year was marked by a strong comeback across formats, tallying 2048 runs in 35 matches with an impressive average of 66.06, including 8 centuries and 10 fifties. His standout performance in the 2023 World Cup, amassing 765 runs in 11 innings, earned him the Player of the Tournament title despite India falling short in the final against Australia.
Nasser stressed the importance for Babar Azam to step up in the T20 World Cup 2024, considering Pakistan’s hopes for a better outcome than their 2022 finals defeat.
Speaking of Babar, Nasser highlighted the pivotal year ahead for him and Pakistan cricket. He mentioned that relinquishing captaincy might relieve the weight off Babar’s shoulders, urging him to focus on piling up runs for his team. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Pakistan needs a solid performance from their former skipper.
Babar faced challenges in the ODI World Cup 2023, struggling to make an impact with the bat, but he finished the year with 1065 runs in 25 ODIs, maintaining an average of 46.30.
As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on these two batsmen, Virat Kohli and Babar Azam, to see how they shape the cricketing landscape in 2024.
