Pakistani veteran and one of the new-age competitors of legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, has ranked the Fab 4 in terms of red-ball cricket. Azam has placed Kohli third behind the likes of Steve Smith and Joe Root.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan as nations has always had an impact on the field, as players have often played it as a high-tension match and have also had banter and altercations. But over and over again, the players have made it clear that these tensions are all gone once they are off the field.
Off the field, they are all great admirers of each other's game, and many are friends across the borders. For example, Harbhajan Singh is known to be a great friend of Shahid Afridi, despite his on-field altercations with the former Pakistan captain.
Babar Azam ranks the Fab 4 in Test cricket
Babar Azam has also shown his admiration towards the Indian greats, as he has been ranking them impartially during his recent conversation with Code Sports. The Pakistani veteran, who is playing his debut season in the BBL, recently ranked the Fab 4 in their Test careers.
This is an open secret: Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are longtime rivals in the game of cricket. The two greats have often been compared as equivalent by the Pakistani analysts and fans; however, it seems inevitable that Kohli beats the neighbouring star every time.
In his opinion, Steve Smith was ranked 1, while Joe Root followed in the second spot, and Virat was third in the list.
Babar Azam ranks the Fab Four in Tests 👀
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 15, 2026
(via Code Sports/@DanielCherny) pic.twitter.com/M2pGmQOY13
Babar Azam ranks Virat Kohli as no. 1 in all-formats
Virat Kohli might have retired from T20Is as the third-highest run-getter of all time and has also called quits to his Test career, yet he remains an unfazed talent in ODI cricket. Kohli has been unstoppable in the ODI format after his comeback.
Babar too acknowledged the Indian star as the greatest ever to have played the game of cricket, someone who has dominated every format with sheer confidence. Joe Root is the only player who continues to play all formats, while Steve Smith retired from ODIs and Kane Williamson from T20Is last year.
Coming to the all-format rankings, Babar named Virat Kohli at the top and then followed with Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root.
.@babarazam258 reveals his all-format big four rankings to @codesportsau.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) January 15, 2026
1. Virat Kohli
2. Steve Smith
3. Kane Williamson
4. Joe Root
+ Pakistani superstar’s ideas for rule/calendar changes, his long-term goals and issue with SCG.https://t.co/01OpeKDUhy pic.twitter.com/gH1epIlkTY
Babar Azam is opening for the Sydney Sixers alongside Steve Smith
Currently, the Pakistani star batter is featuring for the Sydney Sixers in the 15th edition of the Big Bash League. The Sixers are the home franchise for Steve Smith, who is from the city of Sydney in Australia.
Steve Smith wrapped up the Ashes campaign against Australia, leading Australia to three of their four wins as the captain of the side, and immediately returned to feature for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL fixture against the Hobart Hurricanes. Babar opened the innings alongside the veteran Australian.
Steve Smith is not part of Australia's 2026 T20 World Cup squad, but he is willing to continue playing the format with his eyes on the 2028 LA Olympics.
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