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In a generation that has produced some of the finest batters the game has ever seen, one name stands above all others when Pakistan cricket is mentioned — Babar Azam. Elegant, consistent, relentless, and record-breaking, Babar has etched his name in cricketing history through sheer dedication and a God-gifted talent that was visible from the very first time he held a bat. From the dusty gullies of Lahore to the grandest stages of international cricket, his journey is nothing short of legendary.
This blog explores Babar Azam’s life, his breathtaking century milestones, his jaw-dropping statistics, and his enduring legacy as Pakistan’s greatest modern batsman. Whether you are a die-hard cricket fan or just discovering the sport, this is the story of a man who turned batting into an art form.
Early Life — Born to Bat
Growing Up in Lahore
Babar Azam was born on 15 October 1994 in Lahore, Punjab — the cultural and cricketing heartbeat of Pakistan. Cricket runs deep in his family; he is a cousin of former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsmen Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, and Kamran Akmal. Yet despite this privilege, Babar earned every single thing through relentless hard work and sacrifice.
As a child, Babar would practice for hours on end, often until his hands were sore. His early coaches describe a boy who never needed to be told to stay late — he would remain on the ground long after every other trainee had gone home, working tirelessly on his cover drive, his footwork, and his judgment of line and length. That discipline, built in those quiet early years, would become the bedrock of everything he later achieved.
Junior Cricket and the Road to National Selection
Babar represented Pakistan at the Under-15 level in 2008, before going on to play in the ICC Under-19 World Cups of 2010 and 2012 — finishing as Pakistan’s top scorer in both editions. His performances in domestic cricket for teams like Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and Sui Southern Gas Company were consistently outstanding, building a reputation that made his national call-up inevitable.
International Debut — The World Takes Notice
First Steps on the International Stage
Babar Azam made his ODI debut in May 2015 against Zimbabwe. His Test debut came in October 2016, and his T20I debut followed in September 2016. Within months of arriving on the international scene, cricket analysts were already buzzing about a generational talent in the making.
The moment that truly announced Babar to the world came in 2016 against West Indies, when he scored three consecutive ODI centuries — an extraordinary feat that made him only the eighth batsman in history to achieve this, and only the third Pakistani ever. At just 21 years old, he sent a clear message to the entire cricketing world: a new king was rising.
The Purple Patch of 2018–2022
Between 2018 and 2022, Babar hit a purple streak that no other Pakistan batter came close to approaching. He racked up almost 9,000 runs across formats over those five years — more than any other batter on the planet. He peaked in 2022, ranking among the top three batters in the world simultaneously in both Tests and ODIs, and accumulated 2,598 international runs in that calendar year alone — more than any other batter that year in any format.
Babar Azam Centuries — A Record-Breaking Journey
ODI Centuries — Equalling a Sacred Pakistan Record
Perhaps the most emotional milestone of Babar’s career came on 14 November 2025, when he scored his 20th ODI century against Sri Lanka — equalling the great Saeed Anwar’s all-time Pakistan record for most ODI hundreds. For a nation that had worshipped Saeed Anwar for decades, this was a profoundly historic moment. The century anchored Pakistan’s successful chase of 289, and Babar was declared Player of the Match.
What makes this milestone even more special is the context. Babar had endured a prolonged century drought of over two years before that innings. Critics had written him off. Doubters had multiplied. But in the way of all great champions, he silenced every single one of them with bat in hand.
His ODI centuries have come against seven different opponents across thirteen different venues. He holds multiple world records in the format — fastest to 5,000 ODI runs (97 innings), fastest to 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 ODI centuries, and is the only batsman in history to score three consecutive ODI hundreds on two separate occasions.
Test Centuries — The Artist in Whites
While Babar is primarily celebrated in white-ball cricket, his Test batting represents some of the most aesthetically beautiful cricket in the modern era. His 9 Test centuries at an average touching 47.74 are a testament to a man equally at home in the longest format.
His highest Test score of 196 against Australia in Karachi (March 2022) lasted a remarkable ten hours and is the highest-ever score by a captain in the fourth innings of a Test match. The innings singlehandedly helped Pakistan draw a match they appeared destined to lose, and it remains one of the greatest captain’s knocks in Test history.
T20 Centuries — Breaking Records in 2026
In the world of T20 cricket, Babar has achieved something truly extraordinary. In April 2026 during PSL 11, he smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls for Peshawar Zalmi against Quetta Gladiators, taking his overall T20 century tally to 12 — equalling Virat Kohli on that prestigious list. Only the legendary Chris Gayle (22) has more T20 hundreds in history.
This century also broke the PSL record, making Babar the first player in PSL history to score three league centuries. It helped Peshawar Zalmi post 255/3 — the third-highest total in PSL history — and they went on to win by a massive 118 runs.
Batting Style — Where Technique Meets Art
What separates Babar Azam from other great batters is not just the numbers, but the sheer manner in which he accumulates them. His cover drive is routinely cited by batting coaches and former legends as one of the most technically perfect and visually beautiful shots in all of cricket today. Every movement is economical, every shot is played with a stillness and precision that only the truly elite possess.
Babar plays the ball incredibly late, giving himself maximum time to adjust to pace and movement. His head position is exemplary — still and perfectly level throughout each stroke. His balance allows him to access every area of the ground without losing shape or composure. Unlike many modern T20 batters who rely on raw power, Babar relies almost entirely on timing. The bat seems to whisper to the ball, and yet the ball races to the boundary.
His T20 average of 42.72 — the best among all batters with at least 10,000 T20 runs — shows he has mastered the delicate balance between being an anchor and being an aggressor. In ODIs, his career average approaching 60 puts him in the conversation alongside the greatest limited-overs batters the game has ever produced.
Records and Achievements at a Glance
Here is a summary of some of Babar’s most remarkable records:
Fastest to 5,000 ODI runs — 97 innings (world record). Joint fastest to 2,000 ODI runs — 45 innings, alongside Zaheer Abbas. Only batsman to score three consecutive ODI centuries on two separate occasions. Most T20I fifties in history — surpassed Virat Kohli in February 2026. Fastest Asian to 11,000 international runs — achieved in October 2024. Most PSL centuries — 3 hundreds (PSL all-time record as of 2026). Pakistan’s most successful all-format captain since Imran Khan.
Leadership — Captain Pakistan
Babar Azam was elevated to the captaincy across all three formats by 2020, becoming only the second Pakistan captain after Imran Khan to lead the side across all formats with consistent success. Under his leadership, Pakistan climbed the ICC rankings, won important bilateral series, and rebuilt a culture of discipline and self-belief within the dressing room.
His captaincy journey was not without turbulence. He resigned in November 2023 following a disappointing ODI World Cup campaign, was reappointed in March 2024, and then stepped down again in October 2024 to refocus on his batting. Despite the politics and chaos that Pakistan cricket so often produces, Babar’s legacy as a leader remains largely positive. He gave young players belief, led by example, and always put the team ahead of personal milestones.
Comparisons With All-Time Greats
It is impossible to discuss Babar Azam without drawing comparisons to the giants of the game. His name is routinely mentioned in the same breath as Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson — the so-called “Fab Four” of Test cricket. In white-ball formats, the Kohli comparison is most persistent: both are technically brilliant right-handers who have dominated world cricket through consistency and an insatiable hunger for big scores.
Within Pakistan, Babar is already being measured against the immortal names of Hanif Mohammad, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Saeed Anwar. The fact that he has equalled Saeed Anwar’s ODI century record at the age of just 31 suggests the greatest chapters of his career may still be ahead of him.
The Road Ahead — Can He Be Pakistan’s Greatest Ever?
As of April 2026, Babar Azam is only 31 years old. His PSL 2026 form — 401 runs in 7 innings at an average of over 100 — proves beyond any doubt that the fire burns brighter than ever. The next great landmark is breaking Saeed Anwar’s ODI record outright and standing alone as Pakistan’s greatest ODI century scorer. In Tests, 15 or even 20 centuries is entirely within reach. In T20 cricket, with 12 hundreds, Chris Gayle’s record of 22 is the ultimate mountain to climb.
Pundits and former cricketers who questioned whether Babar could rediscover his best form after a difficult 2023–24 period have been silenced by the runs. The King has answered every critic in the only language he knows — with his bat.
Conclusion — Long Live the King
Babar Azam’s story is not just about cricket. It is a story about a boy from Lahore who dreamed bigger than his circumstances, and made that dream come true through extraordinary talent and an unbreakable will. He plays cricket the way a poet writes — with beauty, precision, and absolute heart. Every time he walks out to bat for Pakistan, millions of hearts beat a little faster, because everyone knows something special is about to happen.
From three consecutive ODI hundreds at the age of 21, to equalling Saeed Anwar’s sacred record at 31, to rewriting PSL history in 2026 — the arc of Babar Azam’s career is a masterpiece still being written. He is not just Pakistan’s greatest modern batsman. He is one of the greatest batsmen who has ever lived. And the very best, perhaps, is yet to come.