File photo of Babar Azam. TimesofIndia.com in Kandy: A four-year-old post by former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs, who worked with Babar Azam in Pakistan Super League (PSL) Karachi Kings, is doing the rounds on social media. Gibbs urged Babar to add some offensive shots to his game to improve his strike rate. In a reply to one of the fans, he also mocked Babar’s reluctance to ask for advice. “He’s very much in his own world with batting and not open to many suggestions,” Gibbs wrote.In every Pakistani session, Babar cuts a solitary figure. He is falling and burning and the only cricketer who talks to him for advice is Abrar Ahmad, who made his international debut under Babar. For Shadab Khan, Babar is still the captain as he keeps calling ‘skip’ before bowling him in the nets.
Inside Pakistan’s intense net session in Kandy ahead of their Super Eight clash against England
Babar remains a leader in the group but has lost his aura after failing to develop his game. Since the 10-wicket win against India in Dubai in 2021, bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, he has played four T20 World Cups and has not scored a single six.He was dropped from the T20I setup in 2025 and coach Mike Hesson said Babar needed strong performances in the Big Bash League (BBL) to earn a recall. After Pakistan’s loss to India in the Asia Cup, Babar was brought back. However, his poor run for the Sydney Sixers, where he scored just 202 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 103.06, sparked intense debate over his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.Fans, coaches and former cricketers trained fire on him.READ ALSO | Chasing Virat Kohli Carrying Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan’s World Cup T20 GoalsDespite the criticism, the 31-year-old remains the highest run-scorer in T20Is with 4,571 runs. No batsman in the format’s 21-year history has crossed fifties more often, 39 times, along with three hundreds. His 475 fours are also the most by any batsman. However, the numbers that matter most in T20s paint a harsher picture. A strike rate of 128.18 disqualifies him from any claim to historic greatness and is the lowest among batsmen with at least 3,500 runs in the format.
Herschelle Gibbs’ social media post on Babar Azam has been doing the rounds. (Image: X)
In the pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s loss against New Zealand, Hesson didn’t hold back in addressing Babar’s power play and backed up his stance with numbers. “Babar is well aware that his strike rate in overs is under 100 in the T20 World Cup,” Hesson said.In the four T20 World Cups that Babar has played, he has faced 217 balls in the powerplay for 187 runs. His strike rate of 86.17 is the lowest among batsmen who have faced at least 200 deliveries at this stage.Babar did not even come out to bat against Namibia in his newly designated position of No. 4. Instead, Khawaja Nafay and then Shadab Khan were sent out, marking the first time in Babar’s T20I career that he did not bat.After the Namibia match, Shadab defended the decision and spoke of clarity in the group. “Babar knows exactly when his role comes into play. The messages are clear for every player. The team changes according to the conditions and that is happening,” he said.
Babar Azam (PTI Photo)
A few days later, Hesson further explained Babar’s role. “After the Asia Cup, we brought Babar back into a specific role. We wanted stability in the middle and he gives us that. When we reached 12th the other day, Babar wasn’t the best option. We had players better suited at the end. Babar understands that. He knows his skills and also knows when others can fill that role more effectively,” Hesson said.During the nets in Kandy on a humid Monday afternoon, Babar was seen batting mostly against the left-arm spin of Mohammad Nawaz and the local bowler. Hesson stayed close and kept talking to him. Instead of the wild move he attempted in Colombo against Axar Patel, Babar worked on playing with spin and delivered some elegant shots on the inside.Power was never Babar’s game. He has mastered the role of anchor, but in modern T20 cricket, that role has lost its relevance. Teams now require dynamism in power plays. However, Pakistan persevered with the anchors at the top. Whether it was Babar or his former opening partner Mohammad Rizwan, the strategy often ended up increasing the pressure on the rest of the batting order due to slow scoring.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam watches the ball after taking a shot during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (AP)
Babar was once tipped as the “King” of Pakistan cricket. Comparisons with Virat Kohli were constant and for a brief period he was mentioned along with Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Kohli and Joe Root as part of the modern greats. However, that peak didn’t last and now every match is becoming a ‘match ka mujrim’ for Pakistan.Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes Babar’s second sacking as captain left a mental scar. “He should not have taken over as captain again after being dropped the first time. That was a mistake. The second sacking has dented his confidence,” Latif told TimesofIndia.com.At 31, Babar is at a career crossroads. The talent is unquestionable, but the demands of modern T20 cricket have moved faster than its evolution. With rotation expected to dominate in Kandy, the likely recall of Abrar Ahmad and the need for a left-hander like Fakhar Zaman in the top order, Babar’s place is no longer guaranteed. Even when he plays, his role is reduced. The crown he once wore comfortably now sits uneasily and time is no longer on his side.
