Former Indian great Sunil Gavaskar has called out the unfair criticism surrounding Babar Azam, urging his countrymen to support him during his lean patch with the bat. Gavaskar made his comments during an interview with cricketer-turned-pundit Basit Ali.
“There will always be high expectations from him because he is such a talented player. When he doesn’t score runs, I think everyone should support him. If you keep criticizing him, he will get demoralized,” Sunil Gavaskar said about Babar Azam. The former Indian captain was quick to recall a time when Virat Kohli was going through similar struggles and how India supported him through that phase.
“Two to three years ago, Kohli could not score runs. For one and a half years, he did not even score a century. But no one in our nation doubted his ability. I want everyone in Pakistan, especially the former players, to lift him and the Pakistan team up,” Gavaskar added.
Babar Azam’s form has become a growing concern for Pakistan as the cricketing world watches his prolonged slump continue. His last ODI century came against Nepal in August 2023—23 innings ago—while he has managed to score seven half-centuries in the meantime. However, his once-flowing style has been far from his best, with few innings reflecting the brilliance he has long been known for.
Pakistan’s failure in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where they were knocked out in the group stage after losses to New Zealand and India, has only intensified the pressure on Babar, putting his future in the team into question. While the entire team has failed to perform consistently, Babar Azam has been frequently singled out for criticism from the public and former players, which does not sit well with Sunil Gavaskar.
Whether Pakistanis heed Gavaskar’s warning remains to be seen.
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.