- By Gurmeet Batra
- Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Gilchrist criticized Babar Azam's slow BBL half-century.
- Stressed Babar needs to be more proactive in T20s.
- Questioned Babar's T20 approach despite scoring fifty.
Big Bash League: Australia batting legend Adam Gilchrist was not impressed with Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam’s second half-century in the 2025-26 Big Bash League (BBL), stating that his lack of intent was putting too much pressure on his partner.
Chasing 165 against Melbourne Renegades, the Sydney Sixers opener smashed a 46-ball 58. His innings was decorated with four boundaries and a six at a strike rate of 126.
Babar returned unbeaten as the Sixers chased down the score in 19.1 overs, but the target seemed out of reach if the No. 6 batter, Joel Davies, had not scored a 15-ball 34.
“A lot of balls [off his shots] would go square of the wicket or behind just with a little touch," Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist raised concerns over his approach in the chase, pointing out the 'run-a-ball' approach.
“He is not known to have a really power-packed game. It’s not often he is going to hoick across the line and slog one over the boundary for a six. It’s all about building the innings. He has his foundation now, but he still needs to be proactive. He can’t just think run-a-ball and then place all the responsibility on his batting partner to get it done," he added.
Babar has been struggling to regain his tempo in recent times, and it was clearly shown in November when he played a knock of 47-ball 68 against South Africa, which raised many eyebrows about his form. But at that time, T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha had offered his full backing to the star batter.
“He knows he needs to bring new things into his game. That sweep shot, which you do not normally associate with him, got him a number of runs today. He understands this stuff because he’s such a big player, and he recognises he needs to take things to the next level," Agha said.
"I really hope we see this kind of Babar in future, because if he performs, we’ll definitely win matches. That’s a good sign for us… We’re all delighted for Babar. The whole country is. In big games, big players step up. He did that today, and I really hope he continues along this vein and we see this Babar perform in the next four or five years," he added.