Babar Azam vs Krunal Pandya — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison

Babar Azam vs Krunal Pandya is one of the most searched cricket comparisons, combining international career stats with IPL fantasy data. Both players bring different strengths to your XI, and the right choice can be the difference between topping the leaderboard or missing out.

Babar Azam is a specialist batter for Pakistan, priced at 10.5 Cr this season. No fantasy performance data recorded yet — see international career stats below.

International career: Babar Azam has scored 4,545 T20I runs in 142 matches at an average of 39.18, with 3 centuries internationally. In ODIs, he has 6,203 runs across 134 matches (avg 53.9).

Krunal Pandya is a all-rounder for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, priced at 8.5 Cr. Across 15 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 765 fantasy points, averaging 51 pts per game with a best of 131 pts. He has scored 225 IPL runs at a strike rate of 147.1, picking up 13 IPL wickets at an economy of 8.65.

International career: Krunal Pandya has scored 184 T20I runs in 28 matches at an average of 16.73 internationally. He has also taken 15 T20I wickets at an average of 36.93 with an economy of 8.11.

Batting edge: Krunal Pandya leads with the bat this season, making them the better pick if the pitch is expected to be batting-friendly or if the match is being played on a flat track.

Bowling edge: Krunal Pandya has been the more impactful bowler in IPL 2026, and becomes especially valuable in conditions that offer pace or spin movement.

Fantasy Impact: From a pure fantasy perspective, Krunal Pandya is the stronger pick right now with an average of 51 pts per game and a best score of 131 pts. The value-for-money metric (points per credit) further reinforces this — always check this number before finalising your captain or vice-captain choice.

Captaincy Recommendation: Based on IPL 2026 season form, Krunal Pandya is the safer captaincy option. However, if the opposition's bowling or batting lineup suits the other player, consider rotating your captain pick. Always check the playing XI, pitch report, and toss result before locking in your captain.

Stats are updated after every IPL 2026 match. Compare more players using our Player Comparison Tool or check the Fantasy Leaderboard to see how top managers are building their teams.