• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Babar Azam Will Have To Change His Gautam Gambhirs Advice To Pakistan Skipper

'Babar Azam Will Have To Change His...': Gautam Gambhir's Advice To Pakistan Skipper

image-lnv728k1Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (Twitter)

One of the best batters in the current generation, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is facing a lot of backlash following his side's seven-wicket defeat against India last weekend in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

While the batting remains largely unquestioned, Azam's captaincy skills have often been quizzed and talked about, despite his decent run in ICC tournaments as a leader.

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who is known for his no-nonsense talk, has adviced the Pakistan captain on certain changes that would help him move forward. Speaking to Sportskeeda, two-time IPL-winning skipper, Gambhir stated that Azam needs to be more positive, display intent on the field, and bring in minor mindset changes. 

Here's what Gambhir said

“I feel Babar will have to change his personality, his game and, importantly, his mindset. Pakistan have had a history of attacking batters - Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail. In the present top three, everyone bats in similar mode. If someone has to take responsibility, it has to be their captain, who bats at No. 3."

The Delhi-born also elaborated on the difference between Indian captain Rohit Sharma and Azam as leaders, who expected to lead from the front, and set examples for their respective teams.

“The team plays how the captain plays. Both Babar Azam and Rohit Sharma scored fifties. One scored a 50, other scored an 80. None of them scored a hundred, but it was the approach that was the difference. If Pakistan were chasing 190, their mindset would have been just to win the game, whether they get there in 35 or 40 overs. It is important for the captain to take responsibility. If the captain is defensive, the team will be defensive. You can’t tell the 10 other players in the room that, ‘you play positive, I will play [anchor] from one end’,” 

Azam and Co. will next be in action on October 20, when Pakistan faces Australia at Bangalore.