Younis Khan, a former cricket legend from Pakistan, has given guidance to Babar Azam, the country’s current white-ball captain. Younis thinks there is a crucial lesson to be gained from Indian sensation Virat Kohli, with Babar under pressure because of his recent performance. Babar should prioritize his contributions to the squad over keeping his captaincy, Younis underlined.
Babar Azam’s Struggles
Babar Azam has had a challenging time lately in all forms of cricket. Pakistan has suffered in important competitions as a result of his incapacity to make a big impact. For example:
2023 ODI World Cup: Babar’s lackluster efforts led to Pakistan’s elimination in the league stage.
2024 T20 World Cup: Pakistan lost unexpectedly to the United States, a team that was playing for the first time, and was eliminated in the group stage. Babar’s shape remained a source of worry.
Furthermore, Babar scored just 64 runs in four innings during Pakistan’s most recent 0-2 series loss to Bangladesh. His leadership and form have come under scrutiny following these performances.
Younis Khan’s Advice: Focus on Fitness and Work Ethic
Younis Khan understood the enormous weight of expectations placed on Babar. He pushed Babar to put his work ethic and physical condition above outside distractions like social media during a press conference. He feels that Babar’s best retort to his detractors should come from his on-field accomplishments, both as a team captain and at bat.
Learning from Virat Kohli’s Journey
Babar was instructed by Younis Khan to take a cue from Virat Kohli. Following years of extreme pressure to perform as captain, Kohli decided to leave leadership positions at his own discretion. Ever since, he has set multiple records while concentrating on his own game. Younis believes that Babar should follow in Kohli’s footsteps by prioritizing playing for the country over individual laurels.
The lesson here, in Younis’ opinion, is straightforward: performance counts more than captaincy. Releasing the pressure of captaincy would allow Babar to rejuvenate his career and perform better internationally.
Concerns About Babar’s Test Form
The performance of Babar Azam in Test cricket is among the most concerning parts of his career. In his last 16 innings, he has not reached a half-century, and his highest score to date is just 39. This has caused serious worries, particularly since Pakistan will play England for a three-match Test series beginning on October 7.
Pakistan will put more pressure on Babar Azam as they look to win their first home Test match since February 2021. The cricket community will be keenly observing Babar’s response to Younis Khan’s advice and whether he can improve his form by drawing motivation from Kohli’s career trajectory. Babar’s leadership and his cricket career may both be defined by the forthcoming series.