Since his debut in 2015, Babar Azam has established himself as one of the finest batters in modern cricket. His ability to score centuries across all formats has made him Pakistan’s premier batsman. As of now, he has scored a total of 31 international centuries, cementing his place among the world’s best cricketers.
Babar’s centuries have often come in crucial moments for Pakistan, helping the team recover from difficult situations. His consistency, especially in ODI and T20 formats, has been remarkable. Below, we take a closer look at Babar Azam’s century records across all formats, his performances against different teams, and how he compares with other greats of the game.
Babar Azam’s Total Centuries Across Formats
| Format | Matches | Centuries (100s) | Highest Score | Fifties (50s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Matches | 54 | 9 | 196 | 26 |
| One-Day Internationals (ODIs) | 117 | 19 | 158 | 24 |
| Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) | 123 | 3 | 122 | 30 |
| Total (All Formats) | 294 | 31 | 196 | 80 |
Babar’s dominance in ODIs is evident, with 19 centuries in just 117 matches. He also boasts three centuries in T20Is, a format where three-figure scores are rare. His Test record is strong, but he aims to improve his consistency in the longest format.
Babar Azam’s Test Centuries Breakdown
| Opponent | Matches | Centuries (100s) | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 13 | 3 | 196 |
| Australia | 8 | 2 | 196 |
| New Zealand | 11 | 2 | 161 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 1 | 143 |
| England | 7 | 1 | 196 |
Babar’s best performances in Test cricket have come against Sri Lanka, Australia, and New Zealand. Interestingly, he has yet to score a Test century against South Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe, or Ireland.
Babar Azam’s ODI Centuries Breakdown
| Opponent | Matches | Centuries (100s) | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 18 | 5 | 125* |
| Sri Lanka | 28 | 3 | 119 |
| Australia | 31 | 3 | 158 |
| England | 45 | 2 | 158 |
| Zimbabwe | 18 | 2 | 125 |
| New Zealand | 53 | 1 | 161 |
| South Africa | 17 | 1 | 122 |
| Nepal | 1 | 1 | 151 |
| Bangladesh | 17 | 1 | 143 |
Babar’s most successful opponent in ODIs is West Indies, against whom he has scored five centuries. He has also done well against Sri Lanka and Australia. However, he has yet to score a century against Afghanistan, India, Ireland, or the Netherlands.
Babar Azam’s T20I Centuries Breakdown
| Opponent | Matches | Centuries (100s) | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 10 | 1 | 110 |
| South Africa | 13 | 1 | 122 |
| New Zealand | 15 | 1 | 101 |
Scoring a century in T20I cricket is rare, yet Babar has achieved it three times, proving his ability to anchor an innings in the shortest format.
Babar Azam’s Centuries by Year
| Year | Total Centuries |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 0 |
Babar’s best year so far was 2022, where he scored eight centuries across formats. However, in 2024, he has yet to reach a three-figure score, making it his most challenging year.
Babar Azam vs Virat Kohli: A Century Comparison
Babar Azam is often compared to India’s Virat Kohli due to their similar playing styles. However, there is a significant difference in their number of centuries:
| Player | Matches | Centuries (100s) |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 533 | 80 |
| Babar Azam | 294 | 31 |
While Babar’s century count is far behind Kohli’s, it is important to consider that Kohli has played nearly double the number of matches. If Babar continues at his current pace, he could close the gap in the coming years.
Conclusion
Babar Azam has already established himself as one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen. With 31 international centuries to his name, he continues to break records and set new benchmarks. His dominance in ODI cricket is evident, and his growing stature in Tests and T20Is makes him a complete batsman.
With many years ahead in his career, Babar has the potential to become one of the greatest cricketers of all time. If he maintains his consistency, he could surpass several records, including those set by legendary players like Virat Kohli.
As he looks to regain form in 2024, fans eagerly await his next century, which will surely be another milestone in his already illustrious career.
