Babar Azam Breaks Indian Legend’s Record in Ongoing South Africa Series

Pakistan’s former cricket captain, Babar Azam, achieved another significant milestone in his illustrious career, surpassing a record previously held by India’s legendary skipper MS Dhoni. The record-breaking performance came during the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, where Babar delivered a composed half-century, ending a lengthy drought in 50-over cricket.

A Long-Awaited Half-Century

In Cape Town, Babar ended his 21-innings streak without an ODI fifty, scoring an elegant 73 off 95 balls. His innings, featuring seven boundaries, marked his first half-century in 411 days. Babar’s previous ODI fifty had been an unbeaten 66 against New Zealand during the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Surpassing MS Dhoni’s Record

Babar Azam’s 73-run knock against South Africa also added another feather to his cap, as he broke MS Dhoni’s record of 38 half-centuries against SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). With 39 fifties to his name, Babar now holds the distinction of scoring the most half-centuries against these formidable cricketing nations.

A Year of Milestones

Going past MS Dhoni’s mark is not the first record Babar Azam has shattered recently. In the second T20I against South Africa, he became the fastest player to reach 11,000 runs in T20 cricket, surpassing the previous record held by West Indian powerhouse Chris Gayle. The 30-year-old is also on track to break multiple records in the coming months.

Babar’s resurgence comes at a crucial time for Pakistan. With a crucial test series coming up against the hosts, his return to form provides a significant boost to Pakistan’s hopes of securing a test series win in South Africa.