Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has strongly criticised Babar Azam after Pakistan’s loss to India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Karthik questioned the Pakistan star’s shot selection and mindset after he was dismissed for five runs off seven balls.
Babar was out early while chasing a target of 176. Pakistan were already under pressure as they lost three wickets in the first two overs. Karthik felt the situation required patience rather than aggression from the former Pakistan captain.
“I cannot imagine Virat Kohli playing that shot that early in the innings. That is submission. It is not having belief in what it takes to win or how to take your team closer to victory,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Dinesh Karthik compares Babar Azam with Virat Kohli
Karthik explained that great players control the game by absorbing pressure. He said Babar needed to stay at the crease and steady the innings instead of playing risky strokes so early.
“That absorption of pressure is what makes greatness. Every game cannot be easy where you just come and play a few shots,” he added.
Even though he criticised Babar’s performance, Karthik also showed support. He suggested expectations and pressure could be affecting the batter.
“He is better than that,” Karthik said, suggesting the pressure of expectations may be bogging down the former Pakistan captain.
Babar’s record against India in T20 World Cups has not been impressive recently. Since his unbeaten 68 in 2021, he has scored 10, 14, 0, 13 and 5. In six matches, he has made 110 runs at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 123.59.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has dominated the rivalry. The Indian star has scored 492 runs in 11 T20 matches against Pakistan at an average of 70.28. His famous innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the 2022 T20 World Cup remains one of the greatest chases in the tournament.
India won the match by 61 runs and qualified for the Super Eight stage. Pakistan must now beat Namibia to stay in the competition.
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