World Cup 2023: Babar Azam might return to form in India vs Pakistan, says Shane Watson

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has predicted that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam might return to form in the big clash against India in the ongoing World Cup. Babar Azam was dismissed after scoring only 10 runs against Sri Lanka at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Tuesday as his poor run continued.

Azam was dismissed on an innocuous delivery down the leg-side by Dilshan Madushanka. The Pakistan captain was also dismissed for only five runs in the opening game against the Netherlands.

Furthermore, the flamboyant batter scored only 10 runs in the recent clash against India in the Super Fours stage of the Asia Cup. In fact, Azam has been in decent form in 2023 as he has amassed 760 runs in 17 ODI matches at an average of 44.70 but he hasn’t been at his absolute best in the last few innings.

“Look, he’s a class player. Yes, he’s had a bit of a dry spell, Uh, five innings of less than 30 runs. So it’s the first time he’s done that since 2019. You know that things aren’t going that well, if you when that happens. So, um, Babar Azam, even the first couple of balls that he faced, you can see he’s getting in really good positions. He’s a world class batter. He’s gonna absolutely ready to go against India. Sometimes you’re just not so much out of touch because he’s not even more badly you just out of runs,” Watson said on Star Sports after the game.

On the other hand, former India wicket-keeper bat Deep Dasgupta concurred with Shane Watson. Dasgupta feels Babar Azam can bat more freely with other Pakistan batters contributing in the first two matches.

“A game like this could actually unleash Babar Azam the batter (on India vs Pakistan). You know, he’s got more confidence in the other batters now you know he’s got Abdullah Shafique. He’s got, obviously, Rizwan. Then he’s got Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar. Everyone’s contributing. Before this game, it seems like it’s going to be only Babar or maybe Rizwan. But now I think he’s gonna go out next game, feeling a little more free, can bat like himself and not feel the pressure of the world on the shoulder,” Dasgupta said on Star Sports.

Pakistan will play their next match against arch-rivals India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Saturday.