Image Credits: Sky Sports
Pakistan’s batting vulnerabilities came under scrutiny once again as they found themselves struggling at 188/5 in 41 overs against India in their highly anticipated Champions Trophy clash. With expectations high on senior player Babar Azam to lead from the front, the right-hander failed to produce a defining knock, departing for a modest 23 off 26 balls and leaving his team in a precarious position.
“Do you remember the last time Babar Azam saved Pakistan from a collapse?” quipped former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri. To this “No, because Babar himself is part of the collapse,” replied Wasim Akram. In the last five ODI innings against India, Babar has scores of 50(58), 10(24), 48(57), 9(25), 47(62), 46(52) and 8(12).
Batting first on a challenging surface, Pakistan lost its openers in the first powerplay. Babar, often considered Pakistan’s batting mainstay, could not steer the innings through the middle overs, raising concerns about his ability to deliver under high-pressure situations.The situation prompted a sharp exchange in the commentary box, capturing the frustration of fans and experts alike.