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Ahead of the high-voltage India vs Pakistan encounter on Saturday, October 14, former India batter Aakash Chopra has pointed out that Babar Azam's captaincy might be on the line, especially considering the scrutiny he has faced during World Cup 2023.
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Babar Azam, despite being one of the most talented batsmen of his generation, has faced considerable criticism regarding his leadership skills. His captaincy drew particular flak after Pakistan's disheartening loss to Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023, a defeat that ousted them from the competition. Echoing the sentiments of many cricket enthusiasts, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir went on record to label Babar's captaincy during that period as 'extremely ordinary'.
Citing these developments, Aakash Chopra, on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda, opined that the Ahmedabad clash against India is pivotal for Babar, not just as a batsman but also as a captain. Chopra observed that Babar's leadership in World Cup 2023 seems to be under the scanner and that the young skipper is undoubtedly grappling with immense pressure.
"I feel Babar's captaincy is at stake if it doesn't happen here because scoring runs is necessary and you haven't scored runs. The neighbors keep saying King Babar but the king is one who has that status," said Chopra
"You get that status only when you score runs in a big match against a big team. In India, if you don't score runs against Pakistan, Australia or England, we don't consider him a player at all. The same goes for Babar Azam. He needs to score runs against this team," he added.
Furthermore, Babar's own form with the bat in the ongoing World Cup has been a matter of concern. With just 15 runs in two matches, he hasn't lived up to the expectations set by his previous records. In contrast, Rohit Sharma, India's skipper, has been commendably steering his team with noteworthy captaincy and remarkable batting prowess.
However, Babar exudes confidence amidst the mounting criticism. He has conveyed that one single game against India will not dictate the trajectory of his captaincy. While acknowledging his underwhelming performance in the current World Cup, he emphasized his focus on the future and the intent to bounce back in subsequent matches.
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