Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, is optimistic about witnessing a remarkable transformation in Pakistan’s batsman Babar Azam now that he has relinquished the captaincy. Azam stepped down as the captain of the Pakistan cricket team after their exit from the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, relieving himself of a significant burden.
With the captaincy pressure lifted, Gambhir believes that cricket enthusiasts will now witness a “completely different” version of the 29-year-old Babar Azam. Gambhir, who had earlier predicted Azam to be the standout batter of the World Cup, expressed his thoughts, stating, “I think you’ll see the best of Babar Azam now, you’ll see a completely different Babar Azam because I had picked Babar Azam ahead of the World Cup. I told him that he’d be the batter of the tournament, but the captaincy pressure [let him down],” as reported by Cricket Pakistan.
Recently, Azam showcased his prowess in Pakistan’s Test series against Australia, amassing 126 runs at an average of 21. However, his performance significantly improved during the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, where he accumulated 213 runs with three fifties, boasting an average of 42.60 and a strike rate of 142.
Currently leading the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), which commenced on February 17, Azam is embracing a new chapter in his career. The Peshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 9 under Azam’s captaincy includes notable players like Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Asif Ali, and others. As Azam steps into this fresh leadership role, cricket enthusiasts are eager to witness the resurgence of his batting prowess without the added weight of captaincy.