• Source:JND
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PSL 2026, Peshawar vs Hyderabad: Babar Azam once again found himself at the centre of the finishing debate despite guiding Peshawar Zalmi to a four-wicket win over Hyderabad Kingsmen on Wednesday. The skipper top-scored for his side with a 43 off 37 balls in the chase, but his inability to stay till the end reignited questions around his role in closing out games.

Babar's knock helped lay the platform, but he departed before the finish, a pattern that has often drawn criticism. The issue was brought up during the post-match presentation, where a Pakistani journalist directly questioned his record in run chases and even compared him to Virat Kohli, known for his finishing ability.

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"Virat Kohli comes with a similar style of play but he finishes matches, which you lack. People compare you with him, what are your views?" the reporter asked. Babar, however, did not take kindly to the comparison and dismissed the narrative. "Finish these things. Keep these things to yourself. End the comparison and move on. It's your misconception that I have not finished matches," he responded.

The debate around Babar's impact isn't new. While he remains one of Pakistan's most prolific and technically sound batters, questions continue to surface over his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations, especially in ICC tournaments and tight chases.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan had earlier remarked during broadcast discussions that while Babar is "a very good player," he needs to produce performances that "influence results in big moments."

Echoing a similar sentiment, former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja said on his YouTube channel that players of Babar's calibre are expected to "step up and win games for the team," adding that converting starts into match-winning contributions is what separates top players from the rest.

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Legendary pacer Wasim Akram, while backing Babar's class on A Sports, also acknowledged the expectations. "When you are the main player, people expect you to finish games," Akram said. For now, the runs keep coming for Babar Azam. But until those knocks consistently translate into match-winning finishes, the scrutiny is unlikely to fade.


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