Downfall decoded of Babar Azam [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]
May 31, 2015, almost 10 years ago, a skinny guy, with the passion for the game in his eyes entered the cricketing field for the first time against Zimbabwe in an ODI game. Little did the fans knew that the same player will eventually turn into one of Pakistan's best player across formats in the coming years.
Post the disastrous 2015 World Cup, where Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals, the nation witnessed a transition phase as the likes of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq retired from all the formats and the team needed someone to resurrect their sinking ship. Pakistan cricket was going downhill and entered Babar Azam, who came into the team with a ray of hope, the hope that one day, Pakistan cricket will become a powerhouse and will rule the cricketing world.
The start of something special
Fans witnessed something magical in Babar's first international game for Pakistan, which took place on May 31. There was magic in the air as the Pakistan batter played each shot with precision and found the gaps which nobody else saw. It was as if he was a human calculator and knew exactly how much power and placement should be behind each shot to pierce the gap.
Babar Azam celebrating century Vs Sri Lanka
With Misbah and Younis Khan retiring, the team management put their faith on a young Babar, and it would be fair to say that he didn't disappoint a bit. By the time 2019 arrived, he had cracked all formats and was the undisputed starter for the Pakistan side. So much so, that the fans compared him to India great, Virat Kohli and made him their "King", something which Babar took upon on his sleeves and produced match-winning performances to mesmerise his fans.
Global superstardom followed shortly and he became the captain of the side. From 2019 to 2022, Babar was immortal and was unrivalled by anyone. He had no equal and was superior to all his peers as he churned out runs for fun and even took Pakistan to the T20 World Cup semi-finale in 2021 and 2022. From 2018 to 2022 in Tests, Babar accumulated 3,170 runs, including 9 centuries across different venues, but then, disaster struck.
The downfall which led to team axe
December 26, 2022 was the last time "King" Babar scored a Test century and since then it has been all gloomy and dark days have followed for the former Test captain. Perhaps, the early superstardom went inside his head and the hunger for runs and the zeal to win matches has been lost inside him.
Babar's Test average in 2023 was just 22.66, and it dropped drastically to a mere 20 in 2024 and from a Test average closing in on 50, his overall average has dropped down massively to just 42.77.
There is an overriding sense of sadness that Babar's time could be up in Test cricket. It felt like Pakistan had found a hidden gem when Babar made his debut as he was the real deal. The talented batter played swing bowling with ease in England, rode the bounce in Australia, struck goldmine in New Zealand conditions, but for some reason, has been dismal in home conditions.
Why Babar Azam struggles?
Babar Azam in training [Source: @Rnawaz31888/X.Com]
Babar was compared with Kohli as the two had similar traits, however, it feels that Babar has learnt a thing or two of not working on your weakness, just like Kohli hasn't worked on it. While his competition, Kohli, struggles on deliveries pitched outside the off, Babar has issues with the incoming deliveries and interestingly, he hasn't worked on his weakness.
But there is one thing which Babar hasn't learnt from Kohli and that is to win matches on his own and take risks. He looks good on camera, plays all the glorious text book shots, but unlike Kohli, doesn't have the ability to win matches on his own. Instead of being proactive, Babar is timid in his approach which has led to his downfall. The immortality, the aura which the batter carried has vanished a long time ago and cracks have started to open up.
From being hailed as the next "King" of cricket, Babar has become an ordinary player and has been tarred with a little mortality. End near for Babar in Tests? Not really, but does he need to work on his game? Surely yes. Will he work on his weakness? Not sure.