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[PICTURES] How to turn Babar Azam into a match winner?

srh

Senior T20I Player
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Runs
18,288
Babar Azam is currently not a match winner. He helps his team but he also hurts his team as well. How would you turn him into a match winner? :babar
 
In T20 cricket, you have to accept him for what he is. A Steady Eddy.

In ODI's, he isn't a match winner but is still our best bat by some distance.

In test cricket, he has just found his feet and probably needs a bit more time.
 
He's already a match-winner, given that he averages 50+ with a SR of 85. Anyone who thinks otherwise either has an agenda or a skewed understanding of this sport.
 
Just need to learn how to finish matches. He is just 24 and he will learn will time. The beasts you see Kohli, Williamson etc developed with time. Basic ingredients are there, just needs to remain putting in hardwork and work on his power game and mental side of the game.
 
Mickey should sit him down and tell him to hit more sixes.

And he should preferably cut his average by half and double his strike rate.

Easy:afridi
 
build some muscle...watch videos of chris gayle and ABDV on youtube
 
build some muscle...watch videos of chris gayle and ABDV on youtube

It's more of a mental thing. What has body building got to do with it. He has a body of a decent athlete.
 
This wasnt entirely Babar's fault.
He did take 4 amazing catches too and the horrific batting collapse was the real crime.
On a pitch like this with that amazing start they shouldnt have barely touched 160 only.Some good bowling by Umer gave them a chance but this was Islamabad's game to lose especially with the batting depth they have.
 
Extract his Akmal genes somehow and infuse some Kohli genes somehow.
 
Honestly speaking, just support him as a team. It's a team game. Kohli is a champion because he gets support from his top orders and bowlers. You just can't win match alone anymore. Gayle recently did very well against England, but England still equalled ODI series and won 2020 series. Kohli batted like it was his last match during 4th odi against Aus., but having no support from lower order ruined the game.

I think Babar only way is up, improving each game I guess.
 
Imad and Amir lost the game but Babar is being blamed somehow.
 
Showed his complete lack of temperament under pressure with the dropped catches
 
Best Pakistan batsman by a mile, we need to find five other players capable of winning matches and not worry about the one world class batsman Pakistan possess.
 
I think he needs players around him to attack. Once Livingstone got out the run rate decreased. Ingram should have come in and picked it up.
 
He's too soft. You got to have an almost bully-like personality to be a match winner. Softies can only go so far in cricket.

Babar has the skill and the temperament, it's the lack of ruthlessness and arrogance that is holding him back.
 
He's too soft. You got to have an almost bully-like personality to be a match winner. Softies can only go so far in cricket.

Babar has the skill and the temperament, it's the lack of ruthlessness and arrogance that is holding him back.

Thats why ben stokes is a choker and kohli is god like in ODI wc
Strength of mind can never be judged by Physical appearence.
 
He's already a match-winner, given that he averages 50+ with a SR of 85. Anyone who thinks otherwise either has an agenda or a skewed understanding of this sport.

What does averaging 50+ and having a SR of 85 have to do with being a match-winner?
 
Thats why ben stokes is a choker and kohli is god like in ODI wc
Strength of mind can never be judged by Physical appearence.

Kohli isn't God-like in ODI WCs, hasn't done particularly well in the group matches and has failed spectacularly in the knockouts. Stokes hasn't even played 5 matches in WCs I believe
 
Extract his Akmal genes somehow and infuse some Kohli genes somehow.

But India lost the ODI seris against Australia. How can Kohli be a match winner? Remember, Inzamam was a true match winner who played for his team rather than his own records.
 
90% of his problems will be solved if he develops his power game. He can score runs with consistency but he just cannot accelerate when it is needed which is a must-have skill for any match-winner batsman.
 
When was the last time Babar won us a match? I think it was back in 2019 during the ODI World Cup against New Zealand. It was one of the best match-winning innings he played. What a drastic change that he is no longer our match-winner.
 
Babar has an excellent opportunity to cement his place in Pakistan's cricket history. He must score big for his team to win the first Test against South Africa. If he wants to leave a lasting legacy, tomorrow on Day 3 is the ideal time to do so.
 
Babar has an excellent opportunity to cement his place in Pakistan's cricket history. He must score big for his team to win the first Test against South Africa. If he wants to leave a lasting legacy, tomorrow on Day 3 is the ideal time to do so.
He's has many of these opportunities. What will happen is he will score 20 odd then get out and start looking at his bat when dismissed.
 
Babar has an excellent opportunity to cement his place in Pakistan's cricket history. He must score big for his team to win the first Test against South Africa. If he wants to leave a lasting legacy, tomorrow on Day 3 is the ideal time to do so.
Despite a long-running slump, Ramiz Raja is expecting Babar Azam to play an innings like his 196 vs Australia in Karachi.

Is this a realistic expectation in South African conditions?

ppVeCIk.jpg
 
nothing can make u a match winner if u dont have the ability and i think babar can be stylish and can be consistent but cant be a match winner because he cant shift gears as per the game requirements, he is very much a single dimesional player who cant play outside his comfort zone.
 
Despite a long-running slump, Ramiz Raja is expecting Babar Azam to play an innings like his 196 vs Australia in Karachi.

Is this a realistic expectation in South African conditions?

ppVeCIk.jpg
I recall his 196 where he batted for a draw?

How is that match winning mentality 🤣
 
And here I was thinking Pakistani players are/have been match winners by default.
 
And here I was thinking Pakistani players are/have been match winners by default.
Math winners for the opposition yes.

Jokes aside, I dont hate him as an odi player. He is a good odi player but as massively overrated one since every team has 1 to 3 odi batters > Babar.

In test and t20 he should just quit. Wasn't anything special in both formats in prime and atm is atrocious.
 
Every team has 1 to 3 odi batters > Babar

Australia

1) Travis Head
2) Mitch Marsh

England

1) Phil Salt
2) Harry Brooks
3) Josh Butler

India

1) Rohit and Kohli (Despite complaints, their has been versions are > Babar)
2) Sheryas Iyer
(Jaiswal hasn't made his debut yet but he'll be >)
3) Unpopular opinion but I think Gill is also ahead in odi atm

SA

1) Klaseen
2) Miller
3) Makram( Out of form atm tbf )
4) Van der dussan (Same a bit out of form atm)

New Zealand

1) Conway
2) Williamson
3) Rachin
4) darly Mitchell
 
Math winners for the opposition yes.

Jokes aside, I dont hate him as an odi player. He is a good odi player but as massively overrated one since every team has 1 to 3 odi batters > Babar.

In test and t20 he should just quit. Wasn't anything special in both formats in prime and atm is atrocious.
He is a good ODI batsman specially keeping in mind the type of batsman who play for Pakistan. But let's face it, strike rate reigns supreme in today's age in LOI. I'd never want a specialist batsman in my team in this age who has a career SR of 88.21 like Babar does. And I'm speaking specifically of the 2 new ball era.

Sourav Ganguly was considered a brilliant ODI batsman with an SR of 73.70, but that was the pre new ball era. Those were the standards back then.​
 
Babbar has all the ability and hardly anything wrong with his game but massive issues with mental abilities, and that cannot be taught, he has to cultivate that.
U Akmal was good too but man had massive issues mentally, Babar isn’t that bad but also has become self obsessed, wonder if it’s a Pakistani thing, in India too Punjabis have that but India has parts that are so far away from Pakistani or Indian Jat gene pool so they get hidden somewhat.
 
I don’t understand these random terms like “match winner”. 😂
What defines a “match winner”
 
I don’t understand these random terms like “match winner”. 😂
What defines a “match winner”
In terms of batting who wins games on their own.. esp important ones.

Bevan is one of the biggest match winners, it used to be middle order batsmen but now the field is open even for openers to go all the way.
Saeed Anwar in many ways was a match winner for Pakistan along with Inzi and Razzak for a while.
 
He is a good ODI batsman specially keeping in mind the type of batsman who play for Pakistan. But let's face it, strike rate reigns supreme in today's age in LOI. I'd never want a specialist batsman in my team in this age who has a career SR of 88.21 like Babar does. And I'm speaking specifically of the 2 new ball era.

Sourav Ganguly was considered a brilliant ODI batsman with an SR of 73.70, but that was the pre new ball era. Those were the standards back then.​
That’s quite an extreme statement. 50 overs provide ample time to build an innings. A strike rate of 88 is perfectly acceptable by today’s standards for someone averaging 58.

For comparison, Kohli's strike rate is 93, meaning he typically scores 58 runs in 63 balls, whereas Babar achieves the same in 65 balls. A difference of two balls is hardly a deal breaker.
 
In terms of batting who wins games on their own.. esp important ones.

Bevan is one of the biggest match winners, it used to be middle order batsmen but now the field is open even for openers to go all the way.
Saeed Anwar in many ways was a match winner for Pakistan along with Inzi and Razzak for a while.
These are ridiculous subcontinental myths.

Of course, players like Bevan and Razzaq are labeled "match winners" because they batted in the late middle order and were tasked specifically with finishing games.

Top-order batters, on the other hand, rarely finish matches—it’s simply not their role. Their primary responsibility is to build the innings in a 50 over game.

Better metric would be average or number of centuries in winning chases. Babar has 5 centuries in winning causes, Saeed had 9. Saeed has played more than twice the number of ODIs.
 
That’s quite an extreme statement. 50 overs provide ample time to build an innings. A strike rate of 88 is perfectly acceptable by today’s standards for someone averaging 58.

For comparison, Kohli's strike rate is 93, meaning he typically scores 58 runs in 63 balls, whereas Babar achieves the same in 65 balls. A difference of two balls is hardly a deal breaker.
Remove Zim from those stats and share the result
 
That’s quite an extreme statement. 50 overs provide ample time to build an innings. A strike rate of 88 is perfectly acceptable by today’s standards for someone averaging 58.

For comparison, Kohli's strike rate is 93, meaning he typically scores 58 runs in 63 balls, whereas Babar achieves the same in 65 balls. A difference of two balls is hardly a deal breaker.
Now this is what we call having a superficial understanding.

First of all Kohli started his ODI career in 2008, that’s 8 years before Babar. At that time scoring rate was way lesser.

Secondly post WC 2015, the scoring rates started picking up and Kohli since then strikes at 96.5, which is basically 8 points above Babar.

Now the major difference is seen when you evaluate their ability to change gears, Babar doesn’t possess the ability to smash the opposition once he is set like Kohli, Kohli has the fifth gear, Babar doesn’t.
 
Remove Zim from those stats and share the result
Basic Indian troll: Complains that Babar's stats are inflated by performances against Zimbabwe.

Advanced Indian troll: Acknowledges Babar didn’t just score against Zimbabwe but claims it was against second-rate top tier attacks.

These myths have been debunked so many times that it’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Either way, I’m not engaging further—don’t have time for this. 🙏😂
 
Basic Indian troll: Complains that Babar's stats are inflated by performances against Zimbabwe.

Advanced Indian troll: Acknowledges Babar didn’t just score against Zimbabwe but claims it was against second-rate top tier attacks.

These myths have been debunked so many times that it’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Either way, I’m not engaging further—don’t have time for this. 🙏😂
Didn’t complain asked you to share.. since you brought in Virat to make a point.
 
Now this is what we call having a superficial understanding.

First of all Kohli started his ODI career in 2008, that’s 8 years before Babar. At that time scoring rate was way lesser.

Secondly post WC 2015, the scoring rates started picking up and Kohli since then strikes at 96.5, which is basically 8 points above Babar.

Now the major difference is seen when you evaluate their ability to change gears, Babar doesn’t possess the ability to smash the opposition once he is set like Kohli, Kohli has the fifth gear, Babar doesn’t.
This wasn’t a thread comparing Babar and Kohli, and I acknowledge Kohli is a better player.

This was responding specifically on strike rate of 88 being poor and unacceptable.
 
Didn’t complain asked you to share.. since you brought in Virat to make a point.
You can go and check yourself on cricinfo. It’s not that hard. You’re making the claim that he’s made most of his runs against Zimbabwe so onus is on you to prove your claim. Go educate yourself first instead of spreading miss information from social media.
 
You can go and check yourself on cricinfo. It’s not that hard. You’re making the claim that he’s made most of his runs against Zimbabwe so onus is on you to prove your claim. Go educate yourself first instead of spreading miss information from social media.
Removed HK,Nepal,Zim
Avg: 53.8
SR: 87.10

Hope that helps , that’s not good enough
 
Removed HK,Nepal,Zim
Avg: 53.8
SR: 87.10

Hope that helps , that’s not good enough

Hopefully that answered your question ? 😂

So the same for ones you want to compare him against to get applies to apples
 
Hopefully that answered your question ? 😂

So the same for ones you want to compare him against to get applies to apples
For Kohli the Avg and SR improves on those filters.. marginally yes but still.
 
He is a good ODI batsman specially keeping in mind the type of batsman who play for Pakistan. But let's face it, strike rate reigns supreme in today's age in LOI. I'd never want a specialist batsman in my team in this age who has a career SR of 88.21 like Babar does. And I'm speaking specifically of the 2 new ball era.

Sourav Ganguly was considered a brilliant ODI batsman with an SR of 73.70, but that was the pre new ball era. Those were the standards back then.​
Babar vs Ganguly is like a kid vs an adult. It's an unfair comparison brother.

Babar is fine for odi but yes their are atleast 1 to 3 batters > Babar in every team( top teams)
 
Babar is a known minnow/second string sides basher. People need to celebrate those abilities rather than expecting more. He is already over-delivering given the limited talent.
 
Babar is always a slow player like Dravid and Kallis.He can be a backbone but he needs to bring his momentum back.
 
He is a good ODI batsman specially keeping in mind the type of batsman who play for Pakistan. But let's face it, strike rate reigns supreme in today's age in LOI. I'd never want a specialist batsman in my team in this age who has a career SR of 88.21 like Babar does. And I'm speaking specifically of the 2 new ball era.

Sourav Ganguly was considered a brilliant ODI batsman with an SR of 73.70, but that was the pre new ball era. Those were the standards back then.​
Also Ganguly was an opener and had Sachin with him who can rotate the strike
 
Also Ganguly was an opener and had Sachin with him who can rotate the strike
No 3 and openers aren't too different. 99% of the time a no 3 will usually come in at ovwrs 1 to 7 anyway in odi.

Opening partnerships rarely go for 50+ especially when Pakistan has an inconsistent fakhar or Abdullah shafique at the crease
 
He is a good player but doesn't stamp his authority on games enough.

I'm not too worried about him as an ODI player. As a test player he is lacking and needs to score some big knocks between now and the end of his career.
 
There is only 1 outstanding #3 batter in ODI cricket since Babar 's debut and that's Kohli.

There's a case for Babar being the best of the rest but the differences are much more marginal
 
There is only 1 outstanding #3 batter in ODI cricket since Babar 's debut and that's Kohli.

There's a case for Babar being the best of the rest but the differences are much more marginal
Yup. Babar is a better batter than anyone in India’s test and ODI teams bar Rohit and Kohli, who are also past their prime. There are some promising prospects but no one mature enough to carry the team.
 
lol no.

Pant, KL in tests > Babar
Pant is a flukey player. I am not convinced he will have a successful long career with this technique.
KL Rahul averages 35 after 56 games. He’s in a purple patch don’t get overexcited
 
Pant is a flukey player. I am not convinced he will have a successful long career with this technique.
KL Rahul averages 35 after 56 games. He’s in a purple patch don’t get overexcited
Neither of them with their current records are ATGs but it's Babar Azam we are comparing with, not Joe Root.

What Pant WILL HAVE is a matter for another day. Let's talk about what he has. He has got centuries in SA, Aus, Eng (X2) and was architect of an epic chase at the Gabba in 2021. Babar has 1 century outside Asia and no test innings which comes close to the Gabba chase. Rishabh averages 42.25 and Babar 43.92 without Rishabh getting to bat in the highways Babar has.

KL is no great player. Just an okay player who has got into a purple patch. But Babar doesn't even have that purple patch. KL averages 35 compared to Babar's 43 cause
1. he opens
2. he doesn't get to statpad on Pakistani highways

Both KL and Babar average 33 outside Asia but KL opens and has 6 centuries compared to Babar's 1. Helped India win at Lord's 21 as well as Centurion 21. Mind you this is KL's overall average. If we look at last 3-4 years Babar's stats will be even more damning.

KL/Pant also have some good innings at home to win against Aus/Eng on tough turning pitches (KL in Bangalore 17 vs Aus, Pant in Ahmedabad 21 vs Eng). Babar has won ZERO match/series winning innings against the top teams even at home. In fact in all of the home series he has scored runs (Aus 22, Eng 22, NZ 23), he has been outbatted by opposition batters.
 
Neither of them with their current records are ATGs but it's Babar Azam we are comparing with, not Joe Root.

What Pant WILL HAVE is a matter for another day. Let's talk about what he has. He has got centuries in SA, Aus, Eng (X2) and was architect of an epic chase at the Gabba in 2021. Babar has 1 century outside Asia and no test innings which comes close to the Gabba chase. Rishabh averages 42.25 and Babar 43.92 without Rishabh getting to bat in the highways Babar has.

KL is no great player. Just an okay player who has got into a purple patch. But Babar doesn't even have that purple patch. KL averages 35 compared to Babar's 43 cause
1. he opens
2. he doesn't get to statpad on Pakistani highways

Both KL and Babar average 33 outside Asia but KL opens and has 6 centuries compared to Babar's 1. Helped India win at Lord's 21 as well as Centurion 21. Mind you this is KL's overall average. If we look at last 3-4 years Babar's stats will be even more damning.

KL/Pant also have some good innings at home to win against Aus/Eng on tough turning pitches (KL in Bangalore 17 vs Aus, Pant in Ahmedabad 21 vs Eng). Babar has won ZERO match/series winning innings against the top teams even at home. In fact in all of the home series he has scored runs (Aus 22, Eng 22, NZ 23), he has been outbatted by opposition batters.

There are a lot of 80s and 90s outside Asia. This stat has been debunked. 100 is just a magic number.

As for ceiling, bookmark this post. Babar Azam has a better technique than both KL and Pant, and overall, he is well
Poised to achieve more by the end of his career then Either Kela or Pant.
 
Neither of them with their current records are ATGs but it's Babar Azam we are comparing with, not Joe Root.

What Pant WILL HAVE is a matter for another day. Let's talk about what he has. He has got centuries in SA, Aus, Eng (X2) and was architect of an epic chase at the Gabba in 2021. Babar has 1 century outside Asia and no test innings which comes close to the Gabba chase. Rishabh averages 42.25 and Babar 43.92 without Rishabh getting to bat in the highways Babar has.

KL is no great player. Just an okay player who has got into a purple patch. But Babar doesn't even have that purple patch. KL averages 35 compared to Babar's 43 cause
1. he opens
2. he doesn't get to statpad on Pakistani highways

Both KL and Babar average 33 outside Asia but KL opens and has 6 centuries compared to Babar's 1. Helped India win at Lord's 21 as well as Centurion 21. Mind you this is KL's overall average. If we look at last 3-4 years Babar's stats will be even more damning.

KL/Pant also have some good innings at home to win against Aus/Eng on tough turning pitches (KL in Bangalore 17 vs Aus, Pant in Ahmedabad 21 vs Eng). Babar has won ZERO match/series winning innings against the top teams even at home. In fact in all of the home series he has scored runs (Aus 22, Eng 22, NZ 23), he has been outbatted by opposition batters.
Personally, I rate KL higher than Pant. Hes got a great technique and overtime he will only get better and better the more he plays and gains experience.
Pant is an excellent batter too but with his technique, I am not sure I can say the same.

Overall, I think all 3 are good, but I genuinely think Babar is a tier above both across formats. His form is terrible right now, but this is a neutral assessment.
 
lol no.

Pant, KL in tests > Babar

Even Jaiswal defecates all over Babar on current form.

Babar was literally dropped for a home series due to his pathetic form , now brought back and got out for 4 again. :ROFLMAO:

Last time Babar actually played a memorable knock in ODIs or Tests was in 2022 in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka. since then , it has only been either failures or bullying non serious bowling attacks on cement highways in Karachi/Pindi. His fans will try desperately to prove otherwise but deep inside...they know.
 
Personally, I rate KL higher than Pant. Hes got a great technique and overtime he will only get better and better the more he plays and gains experience.
Pant is an excellent batter too but with his technique, I am not sure I can say the same.

Overall, I think all 3 are good, but I genuinely think Babar is a tier above both across formats. His form is terrible right now, but this is a neutral assessment.
White ball Babar is better than both I agree but red ball the other two have better credentials.

Pant has decent enough technique for a no 6.
 
There are a lot of 80s and 90s outside Asia. This stat has been debunked. 100 is just a magic number.

As for ceiling, bookmark this post. Babar Azam has a better technique than both KL and Pant, and overall, he is well
Poised to achieve more by the end of his career then Either Kela or Pant.
From the times of "the fab 5" to being better than KL lol.

Like I said, KL himself is not that good of a player. Just a decent player with a purple patch (sort of like Murali Vijay/Gambhir etc who were world class for 4-5 years).

Being better than him is no barometer of a great batsman. But Babar isn't even better than him now. It's not like he is a kid. He's already 30.

Pant is a WK-batsman and has already achieved a lot in red ball cricket. Don't know if Babar ever will achieve those things. Pant is also 3 years younger than Babar.
 
After 733 days, Babar Azam scores a 50+ in Test cricket (18 innings) on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa.

Finally, the streak is over for him. Can he lead Pakistan to victory in the Test match from here?

FpSKeJl.jpg
 
After 733 days, Babar Azam scores a 50+ in Test cricket (18 innings) on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa.

Finally, the streak is over for him. Can he lead Pakistan to victory in the Test match from here?

FpSKeJl.jpg
And he is gone after scoring 50 off 85. Our hopes of seeing him win the game for Pakistan will have to wait.

ZrFcNGd.jpg
 
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