Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has advised Pakistan’s Babar Azam to emulate Virat Kohli’s approach to regain his lost form. Babar has been struggling for runs in recent Tests, prompting his omission from the last two matches against England.
Ponting believes that Babar should consider taking a break from cricket to recharge, similar to what Kohli did earlier this year. Kohli’s break proved beneficial, as he returned to form with a match-winning knock in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 final.
“The biggest challenge is how they get Babar back into their side. They’ve got to find a way to get Babar back into form and back into their (Test) team,” Ponting said in the ICC Review.
Ponting suggested that Babar may be trying too hard and needs to step away from the game to clear his mind. “Maybe Babar needs to get away for a while and stop trying too hard. Lock the kit bag away for a while, and think about something else and then hopefully come back recharged,” he said.
Babar’s Test record stands at 3,997 runs in 55 matches at an average of 43.92. However, he has not scored a half-century in his last 18 innings, dating back to late 2022.
Pakistan’s recent Test series victory over England, their first under Shan Masood’s captaincy, has raised questions about Babar’s future in the team. Ponting believes that Babar remains a world-class player but needs to find a way to rediscover his form.
“We know at his best he’s as good as anyone going around. Hopefully, we get to see that in the back half of his career again,” Ponting said.
