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When Gambhir backed Babar Azam over Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and it backfired in 2023 WC

Aakash Saini

Babar Azam with Virat Kohli, and Gautam Gambhir [Source: @TsMeSalman, @ctrlmemes/x]Babar Azam with Virat Kohli, and Gautam Gambhir [Source: @TsMeSalman, @ctrlmemes/x]

Gautam Gambhir has never shied away from making bold calls, often putting forward fearless predictions that spark debate across the cricketing world. A champion former opener and a two-time World Cup-winner for India, Gambhir is now using his tactical acumen as head coach of the Indian cricket team.

Yet, despite his strong convictions, Gambhir’s high-profile predictions have occasionally missed the mark. Back in September 2023, mere weeks prior to the launch of the 2023 World Cup in India, the former cricketer wrongly predicted Babar Azam to set the tournament “on fire” with the bat.

When Babar Azam failed Gautam Gambhir

Back in September 2023, Gautam Gambhir was asked to name one batter who can emerge as the leading run-scorer of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Interestingly, the former Indian cricketer boldly picked Pakistan star Babar Azam over the likes of Indian legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Australian dynamite David Warner, New Zealand icon Kane Williamson and England’s reliable Joe Root.

Gautam Gambhir said:

“Babar Azam, because he has that quality to set this World Cup on fire. There are players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, but Babar Azam has a different level of quality.”

Gautam Gambhir’s prediction, however, fell flat on its face as Babar Azam managed to mint just 320 runs in nine innings at a below par average of 40, thus finding himself ranked number 27 on the tournament’s leading run-scoring roaster.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as it turned out, concluded the 2023 World Cup as two of its leading run-makers, with the former winning the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award after India’s crushing defeat to Australia in the final.

While Virat Kohli racked up a world record World Cup haul of 765 runs in just 11 innings at an average of 95.62, Rohit Sharma plundered nearly 600 runs in as many innings at a staggering strike rate of 125.94.