"Only hits sixes when he is set and spinners are operating": Virender Sehwag slams Babar Azam's batting tempo after Pakistan's 2024 T20 World Cup exit
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has criticized Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for his batting tempo in T20Is after their early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The 29-year-old had a disappointing tournament, scoring 122 runs at an average of 40.66 and a dismal strike rate of 101.66 in four games.
Babar smashed only eight fours and three maximums in the 120 deliveries he faced as Pakistan crawled to slow starts. Despite his 34-ball 32* in their tense run chase against Ireland proving pivotal, fans and experts have been critical of Babar's overall T20I batting and captaincy.
Following Pakistan's exit from the tournament, Sehwag was highly unimpressed by Babar's conservative approach in a fast-paced era of T20I cricket.
"Babar Azam is not a player who will hit sixes. He only hits sixes when he is set and spinners are operating. I have never seen him using his feet to fast bowlers or hitting sixes over the covers; it’s not his game as he plays safe cricket by hitting on the ground. So, he consistently scores runs and his strike-rate isn’t great," he told Cricbuzz.
Babar's overall T20I numbers show him averaging an excellent 41.03 but at a sub-par strike rate of 129.08 in 123 games.
"As a leader, you have to think whether this game is useful for his team" - Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag called on Babar Azam to introspect if his batting style positively impacts the team's cause and for him to bat down the order otherwise.
The champion batter has batted below No. 3 only twice in his 116 T20I innings. Yet, Pakistan enjoyed success in the previous two T20 World Cups, reaching the semi-final and final in 2021 and 2022.
"As a leader, you have to think whether this game is useful for his team. If not, then demote yourself and send someone who can play big shots in the six overs and get the team 50–60 runs. I may sound harsh, but if the captain changes, Babar doesn’t deserve a place in the T20 team. His performances are not as per the demands of today’s T20 cricket," Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
Despite finishing their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with a win over Ireland, Pakistan suffered crushing losses to minnows USA and arch-rivals India in their opening two outings.
Under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan finished third in Group A behind India and USA to miss out on Super Eight qualification.