Babar Azam’s Comeback Will Outshine Virat Kohli, Says Karachi Kings Owner
In the ever-evolving world of cricket, where form can be as fleeting as a T20 over, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam finds himself at a crossroads. Struggling with a alarming dip in performance, Babar has been under intense scrutiny in the ongoing PSL 2025 season. Yet, amidst the storm of criticism, a beacon of hope shines through from an unexpected source—Salman Iqbal, owner of PSL franchise Karachi Kings, who has made a staggering prediction about Babar’s future.
Babar, the elegant right-hander and captain of Peshawar Zalmi, has had a torrid start to the PSL season, managing just 0 and 1 in his first two outings against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, respectively. With Zalmi languishing at the bottom of the points table, the pressure on the 30-year-old is palpable. His woes are compounded by his recent exclusion from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, following a lackluster showing in the home T20 Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year.
Despite these setbacks, Salman Iqbal remains unwavering in his belief in Babar’s potential. Speaking on an ARY podcast, Iqbal dropped a bombshell, declaring, ‘Mark my words, when Babar Azam makes a comeback, he will be a bigger player than anyone in the world, including Virat Kohli. He will be spoken of in the same breath as legends like Garry Sobers and Sir Viv Richards.’ These are bold words, placing Babar on a pedestal alongside cricketing royalty, known for their unparalleled consistency and dominance across eras.
Iqbal didn’t stop there. He emphasized Babar’s inherent talent, stating, ‘He has that class element. Class is permanent; you can’t take that away. Style is always permanent. He will come back, and he will come back with a bang.’ This vote of confidence comes at a critical juncture for Babar, who has amassed over 13,000 international runs across formats since his debut in 2015, with a Test average of 45.12 and an ODI average of 56.72, underscoring his pedigree as one of modern cricket’s finest.
The Karachi Kings owner also shed light on Babar’s departure from the franchise, where he played a pivotal role from 2017 to 2022, including leading them to the PSL title in 2020. ‘When we built our line-up heavily reliant on our openers, we requested Babar to bat at number three. But he was established as an opener and wasn’t comfortable playing one-down. That’s when the management decided on a complete squad overhaul, leading to the release of key players like Babar, Imad Wasim, and Mohammad Amir,’ Iqbal explained. This tactical mismatch highlights the challenges teams face in balancing individual preferences with collective strategy.
As Babar navigates this rough patch, the cricketing world watches with bated breath. Will he rise from the ashes of his current form slump to fulfill Iqbal’s prophecy? Only time will tell, but if history is any indicator, players of Babar’s caliber often find a way to silence their critics. With milestones like being the fastest Pakistani to 5,000 ODI runs under his belt, the stage is set for a potential blockbuster comeback. For now, fans and analysts alike can only hope that the PSL 2025 becomes the launchpad for Babar Azam to reclaim his spot among the game’s elite.