Can Babar Azam replicate Tendulkar’s legacy as an ODI opener?

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently announced a 15 -member squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which is due from February 19 to March 9. However, this election has given rise to a particularly discussion about the combination of opening batting.

The victory of the only recognized opener, along with Fakhr Zaman, the hero of Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy, has created an important vacuum at the top of the top of Sam Ayub due to ankle injury. Although Imam -ul -Haq was a natural alternative, which was proud of an impressive one -day record of an average of 3,138 runs at an average of 48.27, team management has instead entrusted Babar Azam to the important role that India once. How did the legendary Sachin use? Tendulkar.

This decision indicates a major change for Babar, which has basically batted at No. 3 in ODIs. Its adaptation and technical ability have caused selectors, including Assad Shafiq, to consider the role of the opener, as well as the possibility of Saud Shakeel’s step.

“Fakir’s opening fellow depends on the circumstances, opposition and match strategy, either Babar or Saud,” said Shafiq. “Babar has a lot of experience in the T20 and performed commendable in the Cape Town Test, scoring the two -fifths in the absence of Sam Ayub.”

Babar vs Tendulkar – Can he match with the Master Blaster?

As a ODI opener, Babar Azam, who follows Sachin Tendulkar’s legendary effects, is an interesting possibility. Tendulkar, who opened India in 340 ODIs, scored 15,310 runs in 48.29, including 45 century and 75 half centuries. In all circumstances, his ability to dominate the bowlers played an important role in India’s success.

On the contrary, Babar has played basically at number 3, which scored 5,957 runs in 123 ODIs, with an average of 56, with 19 centuries and 23 fifty. However, his experience as an opener in ODIs is limited. He is only open twice, both times against England in 2015, 4 and 22, respectively.

Unlike Tendulkar’s aggressive approach, Babar’s style is more methodology, focusing on anchoring the innings. Although he has performed well as a T20 opener, he will need to adopt his game to create a copy of the effects of Tendulkar in 50 overs format, especially in his strike rate and powerplay By increasing intentions.

A calculation or a dangerous move?

The Champions Trophy of 2025 has given Babar a golden opportunity to strengthen its legacy as a one-day opener, especially hosted by the tournament in a Pakistan-one element that is in favor of familiar conditions. Can work

However, the opening of ODIs creates unique challenges, which swings new hair and make more seamless more than the T20s. With Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Bangladesh, the error margin is thin, and an out -of -form Babar in the upper part can already expose a delicate middle order.

If he grows up as an opener, it can renew Pakistan’s perspective for ODIs and provide stability in the upper part. If he struggles, it can put extra pressure on the choice of Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, which weakens the middle order.

Concerns over Pakistan’s middle order selection

Beyond the opening contam, the selection of Pakistan’s middle order has also raised the eyebrows. The involvement of Fahim Ashraf, Khushi Shah, and Usman Khan has been widely criticized.

Fahim Ashraf has played 34 ODIs, which has scored only 224 runs at a minor on average 10.66 and took 26 wickets in expensive 46.30 average. His last one -day outing against India in the Asia Cup of 2023 scored 74 runs in 10 overs without a wicket and only 4 runs. It seems that his choice is based on his BBLT20 performances, which may not be well translated into ODIs.

In 10 ODIs, Khushdil Shah scored 199 runs (AVG: 33.16) with the highest score of 41 and took only two wickets (AVG: 61). The last time he played against the Netherlands for Pakistan in August 2022, where he scored only two runs.

Usman Khan, who has been selected as Pakistan’s backup wicketkeeper, has not yet been debuted. While he represented Pakistan in 18 T20 ice, on average, 232 runs of 15.46 have been scored, and putting it in a major tournament could prove to be a dangerous move for both Pakistan and its career.

Pakistan’s middle order, collectively, plays only more than 100 ODIs, unlike Virat Kohli, India, with only 295 ODIs and about 14 14,000 runs. Another balanced squad may include veteran Imamul Haq, Sean Masood, or off -spinner Sajid Khan, who provide the most important depth.

Pakistan’s possibilities for the 2025 Champions Trophy

Despite these concerns, the Champions Trophy remains an important tournament for Pakistan, and Babar Azam’s role as an opener could significantly affect the team’s fate.

If Babar is successful successfully, he can provide Pakistan with a solid foundation at the top, as Tendulkar did for India. If not, it may be forced to adjust to the mid -tournament that can disrupt Pakistan’s campaign.

Ultimately, the ability to copy Babar Azam’s ability to imitate Tendulkar as an opener is an open question that will be answered only when he steps into the field on February 19, 2025.

KHURMS87@yahoo.com