News Sports Cricket Ravi Ashwin better than Babar Azam? India all-rounder surpasses former Pakistan Test captain in WTC 2023-25

Ravi Ashwin better than Babar Azam? India all-rounder surpasses former Pakistan Test captain in WTC 2023-25

Ravichandran Ashwin stunned Bangladesh on the opening day of the ongoing Test match in Chennai smashing his sixth century in the format. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja helped India recover from 144/6 and in the process, he also went past Babar Azam in this WTC cycle.

IND vs BAN Image Source : TWITTER/BCCI AND GETTYRavi Ashwin and Babar Azam

Ravichandran Ashwin has been the toast of the nation ever since he smashed his sixth Test century on the opening day (September 19) against Bangladesh in Chennai. He and Ravindra Jadeja added 199 runs for the seventh wicket to help India recover from a precarious position of 144/6 in the first innings. Thanks to the star duo, the hosts managed to post 376 runs on the board after losing the toss with Ashwin scoring 113 runs and being the top-scorer.

With this knock, Ashwin took his WTC 2023-25 tally to 293 runs in 11 innings at an average of 26.63 with a fifty and a hundred each to his name. He also surpassed Babar Azam in the list of most runs scored in this WTC cycle. The former Pakistan Test skipper has lost his form in the format since last year and has only been able to muster 266 runs in 13 innings at a mediocre average of 20.46. He is yet to register a 50-plus score as well in this edition of WTC.

With a long Test season ahead for India, Ashwin has a great chance to climb in the list while Babar Azam, currently playing in the Champions Cup (domestic One-Day tournament in Pakistan), is also due to play seven Tests more in this WTC cycle - three against England at home in October, two against South Africa away and two against West Indies at home again.

Most runs in WTC 2023-25 among Ashwin and Babar

Player Matches (Innings) Runs Scored Average High score 50s/100s Ducks
Ravi Ashwin 9 (11) 293 26.63 113 1/1 2
Babar Azam 7 (13) 266 20.46 41 - 1

As far as the ongoing Test match between India and Bangladesh is concerned, the visitors are reeling at 26/3 in response to 376. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep have wrecked havoc with new ball and the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja are also expected to get help from the pitch.