Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly criticized Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam for his slow innings against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Ashwin, known for his candid opinions, questioned Babar’s intent, stating that his knock failed to contribute effectively to Pakistan’s run chase.
Babar Azam’s Struggles Against New Zealand
During Pakistan’s pursuit of a challenging 321-run target, Babar Azam took 90 balls to score 64 runs, hitting six fours and one six. Despite his reputation as a world-class batsman, his inability to accelerate put pressure on the team, ultimately resulting in a lackluster batting display.
Ashwin’s Brutal Trolling of Babar Azam
Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat,’ Ashwin expressed his disappointment with Babar’s innings. While he admitted to being a big admirer of Babar Azam’s talent, he emphasized that the Pakistani captain’s approach was frustrating to watch.
“I’m a big fan of Babar Azam. But sometimes, when players try to safeguard their reputation, it becomes a problem. The team should always come first. Babar’s knock was really difficult to watch,” Ashwin commented.
Lack of Intent and Limited Shot Selection
Ashwin further questioned Babar’s intent and suggested that his limited range of shots prevented him from scoring freely. According to the former off-spinner, Babar’s approach lacked aggression and innovation, making it easier for the opposition to contain him.
“Intent kahan tha? Ghar pe rakh ke aaya tha kya? (Where was the intent? Did you keep it at home?). Babar Azam didn’t create enough shot options for himself,” Ashwin remarked.
He also pointed out that Babar lacks versatility in his strokeplay. “He doesn’t have shots square of the wicket, no sweep, no reverse sweep, and his bottom hand is closed. This kind of batting is outdated and wasn’t even seen in the 1990s,” he added.
“It Wasn’t Powerplay, It Was Poor Play” – Ashwin
Continuing his analysis, Ashwin slammed Pakistan’s overall approach in the powerplay. The team managed only 22 runs in the first 10 overs while losing two wickets. The slow start put enormous pressure on the middle-order batters to recover.
“What kind of cricket was that? In the first 10 overs, they scored just 20 runs without any intent. Salman Ali Agha played a brilliant innings, and Tayyab Tahir also showed aggression, but Babar was just blocking deliveries. If he was going to bat like that, he might as well have gotten out early,” Ashwin said.
He further added that with just three group-stage matches in the Champions Trophy, teams cannot afford such slow starts. “I understand that Babar is out of form and wants to regain confidence, but there’s no time for that in this format. If you lose one game, you are almost out. This is the same Pakistan team that chased 350 recently, so how could they manage only 20 runs in the first powerplay? It wasn’t powerplay; it was poor play,” Ashwin emphasized.
Must-Win Match Against India
Pakistan now faces a do-or-die match against arch-rivals India on February 23 in Dubai. A loss would likely eliminate them from the semi-final race, making it a high-pressure encounter.
On the other hand, India started their campaign with a victory over Bangladesh and will be looking to secure their place in the semi-finals with another win. The highly anticipated clash will be crucial for both teams, especially for Pakistan, as they fight to keep their tournament hopes alive.
With the spotlight on Babar Azam, fans and experts will be keen to see how he responds to criticism and whether he can lead his team to a crucial victory against India.
