Babar Azam’s century drought has now gone on for 711 days. That’s nearly two whole years without scoring a single international hundred. His last century came in August 2023, when he smashed 151 against Nepal in the Asia Cup. Since then, he has played 71 innings across formats without reaching three figures. The troubling trend carried on into the second ODI against the West Indies, where he unfortunately went out for a three-ball duck. As a result, fans and critics have started questioning his form, with some mocking him by saying, “No Zimbabwe, no party.”
Babar Azam’s Career Stats in all Formats
| Formats | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | SR |
| Test | 59 | 4235 | 196 | 42.77 | 54.37 |
| T20Is | 128 | 4223 | 122 | 39.83 | 129.22 |
| ODIs | 133 | 6282 | 158 | 54.62 | 87.78 |
Babar’s lean patch is not limited to ODIs. In his last 28 ODI innings, he has scored a total of 929 runs, boasting an average of 37.16 and a strike rate of 79.53. These numbers are far below his career average and strike rate. What’s more, he has scored nine fifties in this period, but none have been converted into centuries. His highest score is only 78.
In Tests, his form has dipped even further. Over the last 10 matches, his average has dropped to 23.15, with no centuries and only three fifties. In T20 internationals, he has scored 738 runs over 24 matches, yet he still hasn’t hit a single century. These stats clearly show that the problem is not format-specific; it’s a general dip in form.
Alongside his poor scores, Babar has also faced instability in his role. He has been in and out of captaincy, which can be mentally draining. Switching between different formats and leadership roles can really throw off a player’s rhythm. For someone who was once Pakistan’s most consistent run-getter, these changes might have had a big impact.
The media and fans haven’t been kind either. Every low score now makes headlines, and social media trolls waste no time in attacking him. While criticism is part of the game, constant negativity can affect a player’s confidence.
Despite the poor run, Babar Azam still has the skills to turn things around. He is one of the most technically gifted batters in the world. In the past, he has bounced back from failures with big scores. After facing Afghanistan in 2023, he bounced back with two fifties in a row, followed by his final century against Nepal. This shows that form can return quickly if confidence clicks.
To get back to his best, he might need to focus on simplifying his game. Cutting out risky shots, working on his strike rotation, and staying patient could help him rebuild innings. Sometimes, all it takes is one good knock to break a bad run.
Right now, Babar Azam’s century drought is a major gossip point in cricket. His fans are desperate to see him score big again, and his critics are waiting for more failures. However, cricket is full of ups and downs. Even the greatest players go through bad patches. If Babar stays patient and works on his game, this 711-day drought could end soon, and when it does, it might just remind everyone why he was once considered one of the best batters in the world.
