Ricky Ponting has made an eye-catching comment on Babar Azam’s recent struggles, suggesting that the former Pakistan captain might benefit from a break, much like Virat Kohli did in 2022. Ponting emphasized that this time away could help Babar refresh and regain his form for the sake of his career.
Babar’s recent form has been disappointing, particularly in the Test format. Dropped from the second and third Tests against England in 2024, Babar’s performance has been under scrutiny. He failed to score a fifty since December 2022 and struggled on a flat Multan pitch in the first Test. The selectors made the bold decision to axe him alongside Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah. After his removal from the Test side, Babar returned for the ODI series against Australia, where he scored a fighting 37 in the first match.
Despite this improvement, Ponting remains concerned about Babar’s place in the Test squad. He suggested that Babar should learn from Kohli’s experience. “Sometimes, a break can do wonders,” Ponting said. He recalled how Kohli took a month-long break in 2022 to reset mentally and physically after a prolonged slump. The time away from cricket allowed Kohli to return with renewed energy and form, later becoming the top scorer in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Cup.
Ponting believes Babar could benefit from a similar break. “Stop trying too hard,” Ponting advised. “Lock the kit bag away and come back recharged.” He added that when Babar is at his best, he’s one of the finest players in the game, and he hopes to see him reach that level again.
Leave a Reply