Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has shared his thoughts on Babar Azam and his recent performances.
While Babar is doing very well in PSL 2026, Jaffer believes that too much hype and comparisons with Virat Kohli may have affected his game in the past.
Jaffer praises Babar’s talent
Wasim Jaffer made it clear that Babar Azam is one of the best players Pakistan has produced.
He praised Babar’s natural batting style, timing, and ability to score runs consistently when in form.
At the same time, he said that the problem started when expectations around Babar became too high.
Issue with hype and comparisons
Jaffer said that fans and media often compared Babar Azam with Virat Kohli and even called him “king.”
He believes this created extra pressure on Babar.
According to Jaffer, this pressure may have pushed Babar to try playing like Kohli instead of following his own natural style.
He added that Kohli is one of the greatest players of this generation, and constant comparisons are not always helpful for any player.
Babar Azam’s PSL 2026 performance
Despite the criticism, Babar Azam is in excellent form in PSL 2026 while playing for Peshawar Zalmi.
PSL 2026 stats
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs | 401 |
| Innings | 7 |
| Average | 100.25 |
| Strike Rate | 143.73 |
| Best Performance | 52-ball century |
His century against Quetta Gladiators showed his strong form and ability to dominate matches.
Also See : Sanju Samson’s Century Lights Up Wankhede as CSK Shine in IPL 2026
Captaincy pressure
Jaffer also spoke about the pressure of captaincy.
Babar Azam had a long run as Pakistan captain, which brought high expectations from fans and selectors.
He said that leading the team and performing as a top batter at the same time can be difficult.
This added responsibility may have affected Babar’s performance in some matches.
Jaffer’s key points
- Babar Azam is a top-quality player
- Too much hype created extra pressure
- Comparisons with Virat Kohli were not always helpful
- Captaincy added more responsibility
- Babar’s PSL 2026 form shows his real ability
Final thoughts
Wasim Jaffer believes that expectations and comparisons played a role in Babar Azam’s struggles at times.
However, his current PSL 2026 performance shows that he is still one of the best batters.
If Babar continues to focus on his natural game, he can keep delivering strong performances in the future.
