Babar Azam built his reputation first and has the bigger overall body of work. Shubman Gill is roughly five years into his career and has already produced numbers that, on a per-innings basis, sit ahead of Babar's in the format that matters most for a batter's reputation. Test and ODI, side by side, from verified career records.
Test cricket
Babar has more Tests, more runs and a slightly higher average, which is what a longer career at a similar standard should produce. What stands out is conversion. Gill has turned 10 of his 18 scores past fifty into hundreds, better than a 1-in-2 rate. Babar has 9 hundreds from 42 scores past fifty, closer to 1-in-5. Gill also strikes faster (62.02 to 57.33) and holds the higher individual score by some distance: 269 to 196.
One Day Internationals
This is the format where the gap actually favours Gill. He averages more than Babar (59.26 to 55.03) and scores considerably faster (105.33 to 89.56), from roughly half the matches. Babar's advantage is pure volume: more than double the hundreds, from more than double the innings. If both keep playing at their current rate, the volume gap closes; the rate gap is already Gill's.
T20I isn't included here. Gill's appearances in the format have been sporadic rather than a settled role, and the sample isn't yet a fair comparison against Babar's much longer T20I record.
The fantasy cricket read
Babar remains the safer captain pick on raw sample size and a longer run of consistent scores. Gill is the higher-ceiling differential, especially in ODI leagues, where his strike rate and average both currently outpace Babar's on a per-innings basis. Neither is a reason to bench the other; they're a genuine two-name debate for the top of an ODI or Test fantasy order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the better ODI average, Babar Azam or Shubman Gill?
Gill, 59.26 to 55.03, from roughly half as many matches (64 to 137). Babar still leads on total runs and hundreds because of the bigger sample.
Does Shubman Gill have a higher Test strike rate than Babar Azam?
Yes, 62.02 to 57.33. Gill also holds the higher individual Test score of the two, 269 to Babar's 196.
Who converts fifties into hundreds more often, Babar Azam or Shubman Gill?
Gill, in Tests: 10 of his 18 scores past fifty became hundreds. Babar has converted 9 of 42, a noticeably lower rate across a much bigger sample.
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