- May 12, 2025
Every so often, a cricketer plays an innings where fans, commentators, and even his opponents are left dumbstruck, and can only stand there in admiration. For Babar Azam, arguably the greatest batting talent in current Pakistan cricket history, there is a silky inevitability about this type of innings. However, one has become a standout; his 115 against the Gladiators in 2023. Babar has also become more famous for elegance as opposed to sheer force, but he flipped the narrative that night in Rawalpindi. So why was this innings so special?
A Masterclass in Controlled Aggression
Babar Azam’s 115 off 65 balls was more than just a number on the scoreboard, it was a statement. Babar has, perhaps pedantically (unfairly, one could say) been labelled (more ‘anchorish’ than anything else in T20 cricket), but he amassed his total at a strike rate of 176.92, routing the Gladiators’ bowling attack with an exquisite 15 fours and 3 sixes. Yes, Babar Azam – with his innate ability to time the ball – batted aggressively as he did, but still looked graceful doing it.
The knock lasted 102 minutes as he was completely masterful and in total control for the whole duration. The best part was his positive mindset from the minute the lot – he wasn’t going to wait until the last few overs of an innings to start scoring, he was 1 step ahead, he was attacking – thoroughly picking out bowlers and switching between attacking and rotating when the ones were closed off and perfectly balanced that too. Babar being run out instead of bowled is a statement in itself, and they had none.
Read Also : Key Players to Watch for Peshawar Zalmi – 28th Match, PSL 2025
Not Just a Flash in the Pan
It may be tempting to dismiss one hefty innings as a coincidence, but the truth is Babar Khan does tend to consistently be excellent in the PSL. He scored 111 not out against United in February 2024, and scored 90 not out against Sultans in 2021, and thus there is a pattern here, and Babar has generally saved his talent for the larger games.
In that innings of 111 not out, it again showed that he can convert, batting from the same position – openers or first in Pakistan – with a strike rate of 176.19, at almost the same run rate as his 115. It is almost poetic how consistent he has continued to be; another story altogether, he has had his evolution as a T20 batter. These large scores of late cannot simply be luck; ultimately, they are proof of a player questioning her game and adapting to the pace of T20 cricket in the present age.
Redefining His T20 Narrative
For several years now, the debate about whether Babar was “too classical” to perform well in the T20 format has been exhausted by fans and critics alike. However, after innings like the innings of 115 against the Gladiators, the debate has ended in an emphatic way for Babar, who has also figured out he will not be a passenger in frenetic chases.
But it is not about simply silencing critics. It is about a player who has rewritten his own T20 story. Babar has shown it is possible to create acceleration, to play reactive cricket, and to finish matches. His power game is evident; his shot selection has improved; and his situational awareness of matches has elevated him from a good T20 batter to an outstanding T20 batter.
115 is not only Babar Azam’s highest-ever PSL score, but it is a milestone or watershed moment in Babar’s T20 evolution. It has shown that he can be elegant and explosive, an artist and an assassin, simultaneously. The PSL gives us exciting moments and fresh talents, and Babar’s innings reminds fans that a seasoned warrior can still be destructive.
For more, visit JeetBuzz News to read our quality Cricket Blog updates. Explore if you want to reminisce and enjoy all of your favourite cricket players and nostalgic match moments. To ensure that you never miss out, keep updated and join in the fun!
