Gautam Gambhir Applauds Babar Azam’s Stellar Batting
“Babar Azam doesn’t need to give any message. He has given a message in the 104 matches he has played. If you can score 19 centuries in 104 matches, I believe he will be in the top two or three players in all formats. So he doesn’t need to give a message,”
– Gautam Gambhir
Veteran Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has showered accolades on Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, for his remarkable consistency in batting across various formats. Currently, Babar Azam stands as the sole batsman in the top 5 of ICC Rankings across all formats, a testament to his remarkable skill and form.
As the Asia Cup 2023 unfolds, Babar Azam has started the campaign on a high note with a magnificent 151-run knock against Nepal. However, Gambhir believes that the real challenge for Babar awaits him in the upcoming clash against India. Facing the formidable Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj will put his abilities to the test.
The Babar Azam – India Showdown
Babar Azam is set to square off against India in a much-anticipated clash on Saturday in the Asia Cup 2023. Gautam Gambhir, a star from India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, is convinced that Babar’s impressive track record speaks for itself, and he doesn’t need to send any additional messages to the cricketing world.
Gambhir remarked, “Babar Azam doesn’t need to give any message. He has given a message in the 104 matches he has played. If you can score 19 centuries in 104 matches, I believe he will be in the top two or three players in all formats. So he doesn’t need to give a message,” during a conversation on Star Sports.
The Indian Pace Threat
Gambhir also highlighted that India will be fielding their three premier pacers – Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj – together after a considerable period. This reunion of the pace trio is expected to pose a significant threat to Babar Azam in the upcoming clash.
He stated, “However, it will be a good contest. He will be tested against the Indian fast bowling. You will get to see an Indian attack after a long time, where all three bowlers (Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammed Siraj) can test Babar Azam properly.”
The Real Test
While Babar Azam’s recent performance against Nepal showcased his prowess, Gambhir believes that the true test for the Pakistani skipper will come when he faces the Indian bowling line-up during the Asia Cup. Gambhir emphasized, “Babar Azam’s real testing will not happen against Nepal, Sri Lanka, or Bangladesh; it will be against India. Such players also want to test themselves against this kind of bowling.”
Team Squads
| India | Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (captain) | Babar Azam (captain) |
| Virat Kohli | Abdullah Shafique |
| Shreyas Iyer | Fakhar Zaman |
| KL Rahul | Imam-ul-Haq |
| Shubman Gill | Salman Ali Agha |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Iftikhar Ahmed |
| Tilak Varma | Mohammad Rizwan |
| Ishan Kishan | Mohammad Haris |
| Hardik Pandya (vc) | Shadab Khan |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Mohammad Nawaz |
| Axar Patel | Usama Mir |
| Shardul Thakur | Faheem Ashraf |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Haris Rauf |
| Mohammed Shami | Mohammad Wasim Jnr |
| Mohammed Siraj | Naseem Shah |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Shaheen Afridi |
| Prasidh Krishna | Saud Shakeel |
| Sanju Samson (travelling reserve) | Tayyab Tahir (travelling reserve) |
As the clash between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 draws near, cricket fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the showdown between Babar Azam and the Indian pace trio. With both teams boasting formidable squads, this encounter promises to be a thrilling spectacle for cricket enthusiasts.