There was a time when Babar Azam stood among the elite of international cricket. His elegant cover drives, disciplined temperament, and consistency made him a pillar of hope for Pakistan national cricket team, especially in the white-ball formats. But today, the narrative has shifted: his form has taken a serious dip, and the question on everyone’s lips is—where does Babar go from here?
The Slide in Form
Babar’s recent record tells a worrying story. In Tests, he averaged around 67 at home before 2023; since then his average has plunged. Against spin: his average fell from 60+ pre-2023 to around 25.55 after. In ODIs too, his average and strike rate against spin dropped from 83.9/89.6 to 47.4/77.7. (Wisden) His T20 form, once lauded for crisp timing and strike rate, has also failed to adapt to modern demands. In the ongoing slump, Babar has gone more than a year without an international century and saw scores of 0, 1 and 2 in his first three matches of Pakistan Super League Season 10—a first in his 13-year career. Furthermore, he dropped out of the ICC Top-10 Test batsmen rankings in 2024 after nearly five years inside it. (Dawn)
What’s Going Wrong?
Analysts point to recurring patterns: unconverted starts, dismissals at the same mode (bowled or LBW), and an inability to dominate spinners and pacers as he once did. There are also suggestions of mental fatigue—role changes (opening vs middle order), captaincy burdens, and an erratic schedule may have contributed to his slump.
Forecast & Place in the National Side
Despite these concerns, Babar is far from finished. His class and technique remain intact, and supporters believe his slump is part of a larger career arc rather than the end of the road. (ESPN) The key will be adjustment: re-finding his rhythm, refining his technique against spin and pace, and embracing modern demands of strike rate, temperament and flexibility. From a national-side perspective, Pakistan must weigh his experience and class against current form. The selectors might consider workload management, format specialization (perhaps focusing more on ODIs and T20s where he historically excelled) or even a period of rest to regain confidence.
If Babar can recalibrate and rediscover a big-score rhythm, he still has several years ahead to rebuild his legacy. But if the slump stretches much longer, the selectors may face a difficult decision—whether to persist with a former star in hopes of revival or to transition to the next generation of batsmen.
In short: Babar Azam remains a history-in-the-making—but right now he is in a reset phase. The coming seasons will determine whether he reclaims his place among the greats or becomes a cautionary tale in promise undone.
0 Comments