Babar Azam’s Century Drought Deepens — A Star in Stormy Seas

Breaking: Babar Azam’s century drought in international cricket now stretches beyond 70 innings — a shocking slide for Pakistan’s former captain. Fans, critics, and former greats weigh in as questions swirl about his future.

1. Century drought continues — Babar Azam has now gone approximately 72 consecutive innings without scoring a hundred in international cricket.
2. Last ton: 2023 — His most recent century came in the 2023 Asia Cup against Nepal.
3. Form and confidence shaken — He was dismissed for a duck by Jayden Seales in the recent West Indies ODI, further fueling scrutiny.
4. Social media storm — Critics and fans alike are questioning whether the “hype” surrounding Babar was justified.
5. Captaincy, expectations, pressure — Since resigning or being relieved of captaincy in recent years, Babar’s role and mindset have shifted.

The Fall That’s Hard to Ignore

Karachi (Star Struck Times) — In the cricketing world, a slump is inevitable. But when Babar Azam — once the pride of Pakistan’s batting lineup — enters a drought deeper than two years, it turns into a narrative rife with drama, doubt, and heartbreak.

The alarm bells rang louder on that fateful day in Trinidad where pacer Jayden Seales uprooted Babar’s stumps in just three deliveries. The lush Caribbean pitch greeted him, and within moments, his bat stood still while the ball gleefully demolished the stumps. Boyhood fans watching couldn’t help but feel the sting.

That duck wasn’t an anomaly — it added to a grim ledger that now validates what many feared: Babar has failed to convert starts into centuries in 72 consecutive innings.

It’s not just numbers on a stat sheet anymore; it’s a psychological minefield. Each single, each fifty, carries baggage. As critics circle, he battles more than just bowlers — he’s grappling with his own self-belief.

Why It Matters (Beyond the Numbers)

To the untrained eye, a drought is just that: a barren spell. But for someone of Babar’s stature, the implications are seismic.

• Legacy at risk: He’s been compared to legends. Now, history may measure him by his collapse as much as his peaks.
• Selection dilemmas: Will selectors back a star in crisis or seek fresh blood?
• Team morale & leadership vacuum: Without a commanding bat, can Pakistan’s batting unit be truly confident?
• Brand, endorsements, fan sentiment: Declining form affects marketability and public perception.

Even beyond Pakistan’s borders, cricket fans in the USA, UK, and across the Commonwealth view Babar as a marquee name. His failure to score centuries isn’t just a Pakistani problem — it becomes a talking point in global cricket conversations.

Voices from Inside the Ground

“Babar’s technique has always been immaculate, but technique without conviction is fragile,” said a former international batter (requesting anonymity). “He’s walking in with doubt now, and bowlers smell that.”

A coach close to Pakistan cricket circles adds:

“Sometimes the weight of expectations — internal, external — crushes a player more than any fast bowler ever will.”

Meanwhile, on social media, one user lamented:

“Babar Azam has now gone 71 consecutive innings … lots of hype, maybe he isn’t as clutch as people thought.”

These aren’t fair-weather opinions. They mirror what fans — many of whom once defended him — now feel: confusion, frustration, and a longing for answers.

A Look Back: The Highs That Make the Lows Hurt

To understand this slump, you must remember what came before.

• Blinding rise: Babar racked up 19 ODI centuries across 102 innings early in his career.
• Multi-format brilliance: In T20s alone, he is known for consistency and timing.
• Captaincy struggles: Over time, leading Pakistan brought extra weight. In October 2024, he was dropped from Test squads amid heavy scrutiny.
• Resignation shock: One year ago, Babar announced his decision to step down from captaincy, citing pressure and a desire to focus on his game.

His decline didn’t occur overnight. A year of captaincy burden, shifting roles, inconsistent confidence, and mounting pressure created cracks where none were expected.

Is There Similarity With Virat Kohli’s Crisis?

The Indian captain had one of his own droughts. Between 2021–2022, Kohli went through a century-less patch that concerned fans just as much. But he resurged — first with a T20I ton, then a run of centuries across formats.

Could Babar replicate that rebound? The path is similar, but the factors differ — team environment, cricketing culture, media expectations. Yet the blueprint exists: patience, technique revalidation, mental resilience.

Comparative Lens: Babar vs. Contemporaries

A fresh point of comparison emerges: KL Rahul. While Rahul has more Test centuries, Babar holds a higher average.

But therein lies the twist: Rahul’s recent form is surging, while Babar flounders. In the context of 2025 cricket narratives — with India’s batters often grabbing headlines — Babar’s slump is magnified.

Can He Turn It Around?

Yes — but the window is shrinking. Several pressures must align:

• Technical reset: He may need to revisit his base technique — footwork against pace, balance, back-foot play.
• Mental recharge: Work with psychologists, reduce external noise, and focus on process over outcome.
• Selective matches: Play in conditions that favor his style initially (spin-friendly or flat tracks) to build confidence.
• Leadership by example: Even without captaincy, he must lead with performance to ground trust.

What’s Next? (For Babar & Pakistan)

For Pakistan, the stakes are high. The batting ship needs a captain — not necessarily in title, but in influence. If Babar recovers, he can restore stability. If not, a new era may quietly begin.

FAQs

Q1: When did Babar Azam last score a century in international cricket?
A: His last hundred was in the 2023 Asia Cup against Nepal.

Q2: How many innings has his century drought lasted?
A: Approximately 72 consecutive innings across formats.

Q3: Has any other top batter gone this long without a century?
A: It’s rare. Few elite batters endure such extended droughts, especially in multiple formats. Babar’s slump is exceptional for his past standard.

Q4: Can he still make a comeback?
A: Absolutely. With technical, mental, and situational adjustments, he can reignite confidence. History has seen comebacks like this before.

Babar Azam’s century drought is not just a statistical concern — it’s a narrative turning point. Fans loved him for consistency; now they watch him for redemption. This is a test of character as much as cricketing skill.

If he emerges from this slump stronger, the story will be told for years. If not, the cricketing world may begin to reposition its faith. Either way, the spotlight is on him — more intense and unforgiving than ever.

What do you think? Will Babar’s bat rediscover its fire, or is the phase irreversible? Let me know your thoughts.

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