By Since debuting in 2016, Babar Azam has emerged as one of Pakistan’s premier batters, amassing an impressive 11,434 runs across formats between 2015 and 2022 at an average of 50.37 with 28 centuries. While his run tally during this period was bettered by the likes of Virat Kohli (13,757 at 59.04) and Joe Root (12,088 at 49.13), Babar’s consistency secured his place among the elite in international cricket. However, his recent form and the striking variance between his home and away performances have become a growing concern for Pakistan.
No batter who debuted since 1990 has had such a significant variance in home and away Test averages. Babar boasts an exceptional home average of 67.77, but his away average of 36.86 after 56 innings significantly reduces his overall impact. This home-away average variance of 30.91 is the highest among batters who have scored over 1,000 runs and maintained a 60-plus average at home since 1990. In contrast, Kumar Sangakkara (7.31) and Steve Smith (9.1) show much smaller variances, with Virat Kohli’s home-away difference standing at 17.21. Babar’s World Test Championship (WTC) home-away splits reflect this trend, with a 24.33 difference.
Babar Azam’s Home-Away
Babar’s recent struggles have coincided with Pakistan’s underwhelming performances in major tournaments, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cup. Across two WTC cycles, Pakistan has won just two of their last seven Tests, with Babar’s batting average hovering in the mid-30s. On Wednesday, in the opening match of the 2024-25 Test season against Bangladesh, Babar was dismissed for his first duck at home and his first in Tests since 2021, marking his 18th international duck.
Despite being among the runs in the WTC, Babar has seen a decline in form, going 13 innings without a fifty. This scoring lull is becoming a critical issue, as Babar has failed to convert starts into substantial scores, further highlighting the concerns surrounding his recent form.
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