‘Play domestic cricket’: Virender Sehwag’s advise to Babar Azam amid ‘decreasing expectations’

New Delhi: Babar Azam, once the darling of Pakistani cricket fans, has faced a tough period over the last couple of years. Despite being one of the team’s most talented batters, a prolonged slump in his performance significantly affected his reputation. The situation deteriorated to the point where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the bold decision to exclude him from the squad for the final two Tests against England. Earlier, his leadership came under fire following Pakistan’s disappointing campaigns in both the ODI and T20 World Cups, ultimately leading him to step down as captain on two occasions.

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag weighed in on Babar Azam’s recent struggles, offering advice for a potential comeback. Sehwag suggested that Babar focus on grinding in domestic cricket, using the time to refine his game and improve his fitness. He emphasized that this approach could help Babar return to the international stage both fitter and mentally stronger, ready to regain his form and confidence.

“Babar Azam should play domestic cricket now. He should work on his fitness, spend some time with family, then come back to international cricket as a physically fitter and mentally stronger player,” said Sehwag on Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel.

Sehwag acknowledged the mental toll that recent setbacks have had on Babar Azam, urging the star batter to remain mentally strong during this challenging period. Despite the struggles, Sehwag expressed optimism about Babar’s ability to recover, believing that with resilience and determination, Babar would soon overcome this difficult phase and return to his best form.

“With expectations from Babar decreasing and his resignation from captaincy, it seems he has been more impacted mentally than in terms of technique. He needs to stay mentally strong. He’s a talented player, and players like him tend to bounce back quickly,” he added.

Babar Azam has struggled with the bat recently, failing to score a fifty in his last 18 innings for Pakistan. His last significant performance came on December 26, 2022, against New Zealand, where he scored 161 in the first Test. However, his form took a sharp decline in 2023, as he managed only 366 runs at a modest average of 20.33. In the first Test against England, he posted scores of 30 and five, which ultimately led to his exclusion from the team for the subsequent matches.