Playing in ICC tournaments is a real test of the mettle of a cricketer under pressure. Two contemporary stars, India's Shreyas Iyer and Pakistan's Babar Azam, have proved their worth on the international stage.

Whereas Babar is famous for his consistency and captaincy, Iyer has impressed with his big-match performances.

Shreyas Iyer in ICC Events

Shreyas Iyer first appeared in the ICC tournament in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Although he wasn't experienced enough, he was a vital player in India's run.

Shreyas Iyer's ICC Tournament Stats (2023 ODI World Cup):

• Matches Played: 11
• Total Runs: 530
• Batting Average: 66.25
• Strike Rate: 97.27
• Centuries/Fifties: 2/3
• Best Score: 128*

Key Performances:

• 128 vs Netherlands:* A stupendous knock during the group stage.
• 105 vs New Zealand (Semi-Final): A match-winning century in a tight knockout encounter.
•  82 vs Sri Lanka: A thrilling innings that enabled India to register a huge score.

Iyer's capability to push the innings and deliver under pressure makes him an asset middle-order batsman.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!

Babar Azam in ICC Events

Babar Azam has been the mainstay of Pakistan's batting unit in ICC events, playing in the T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, and Champions Trophy since 2017.

Babar Azam's ICC Tournament Stats (ODI & T20 World Cups):

• Matches Played: 43
• Total Runs: 1,604
• Batting Average: 42.2
• Strike Rate: 81.13 (ODIs), 112.15 (T20s)
• Centuries/Fifties: 1/15
• Best Score: 101*

Key Performances:

• Scored a spectacular 101 against New Zealand during the 2019 ODI World Cup*.
• Led Pakistan to the final of the T20 World Cup 2022 as captain.

Has faced criticism for a poor strike rate in pressure situations.

Despite his consistent run-scoring, Babar has been criticized for being conservative in do-or-die matches, especially in ICC knockout matches.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Shreyas Iyer vs Babar Azam in ICC Competitions

Performance Analysis:

• Iyer is superior on average and strike rate even though he has played fewer games.
• Babar has more runs and experience, but his performance in knockout matches is inferior.
• Iyer has played high-pressure games, while Babar has played well but not that aggressively in crucial moments.

If we consider total experience and total runs, then the advantage lies with Babar Azam

If we compare strike rate, match-winning potential, and pressure match performances, then Shreyas Iyer has been superior.

Also See : Karun Nair's Ranji Trophy Heroics: 86 & 135 – A Strong Case for India Test Recall!