In the world of cricket, some rises are remarkably swift, while certain falls are incredibly astonishing. This holds true for Babar Azam, the celebrated batsman of Pakistan cricket. Once a player compared to Virat Kohli, he now struggles to regain his form. The ups and downs in his career serve as a vivid reflection of the deep crisis within Pakistan cricket. Babar Azam’s story began in 2007 during a match between Pakistan and South Africa. At just 13 years old, Babar attended the game as a ball boy. Unlike typical ball boys, he had easy access to the Pakistan team’s dressing room and among the players, thanks to a special reason—his cousins Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, and Adnan Akmal were members of the national team at the time. These family connections greatly aided Babar’s cricketing journey. He quickly rose through the ranks in the Under-15 and Under-19 levels, showcasing excellent performances and transitioning seamlessly into domestic cricket without significant challenges.
Early Beginnings: Babar Azam’s Entry into Cricket
Babar Azam made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe on May 31, 2015. A turning point in his career came during the ODI series against the West Indies in 2016. In the first ODI in Sharjah, Babar scored 120 runs, leading Pakistan to victory. He then scored centuries in the next two matches as well, making history by achieving three consecutive centuries. In that series, Babar amassed 360 runs and won the Man of the Match award in all three games, along with the Player of the Series title. This performance marked Babar as a rising star in Pakistan cricket. By 2017, he had become a permanent presence across all three formats. Scoring seven centuries in 33 ODIs, Babar outpaced Virat Kohli, who took 50 matches to reach the same milestone. These feats sparked comparisons with Kohli, earning Babar the nickname “Pakistan’s Kohli.”
Babar Azam: From World Cup Hero to Leader
Despite Pakistan’s overall failure in the 2019 World Cup, Babar Azam scored 474 runs, emerging as the team’s top run-scorer. Outscoring Virat Kohli in that tournament, he gained global attention and was regarded as the next big star in Pakistan cricket. In 2019, he surpassed 1,000 ODI runs, topping the ODI rankings. Later that year, when Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed as captain, Babar was appointed as Pakistan’s new captain. Under his leadership, Pakistan delivered an incredible performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup, notably defeating India by 10 wickets—the first such victory in World Cup history—proving their strength. Babar, who scored the most runs in the tournament, also secured the number one ranking in both ODIs and T20s. He further showcased his talent in Test cricket, notably in 2021 against Australia, where Pakistan chased a 506-run target. Facing over 400 balls, Babar scored 196 runs, helping the match end in a draw. As Kohli’s form declined, Babar emerged as a top-tier player across all formats, earning the nickname “King.”
Struggles and Captaincy Turmoil in 2022-2025
However, after this golden period, Babar’s performance began to decline. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he was dismissed for a duck against India and managed only 150 runs throughout the tournament. Although Pakistan reached the final, they failed to win the title. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar scored just 320 runs, while Virat Kohli led with 765 runs, drawing significant criticism toward Babar. He was mocked as a “flat-track bully” and “Zimbabwe specialist.” Returning as Pakistan’s T20 captain for the 2024 World Cup, Babar faced unexpected losses to India and the USA, leading to his removal as captain. Despite Shahin Shah Afridi being appointed as the new captain, a poor series performance led to Babar’s controversial reinstatement as captain, sparking widespread debate. In 2024, his individual performances deteriorated further, resulting in his removal as captain and subsequent exclusion from the Test team. Even during the 2025 Champions Trophy held in Pakistan, Babar failed to regain his form. Most recently, in 2025, he was omitted from the Asia Cup squad.
Conclusion
The rises and falls in Babar Azam’s career mirror the current state of Pakistan cricket. Issues such as form struggles, captaincy pressure, PCB political interference, and domestic cricket system problems have adversely affected both Babar and the Pakistan team. Once seen as a player who could challenge Virat Kohli, Babar now struggles to maintain his position. For both Babar and Pakistan cricket to reclaim their former glory, they must overcome numerous challenges—this is the reality.
