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Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has offered a piece of advice to struggling Pakistan batsman Babar Azam, urging him to emulate Virat Kohli's strategy to revive his flagging form. Babar, who was rested for the final two Test matches against England due to his poor performance, has seen his form dwindle significantly in recent times. Despite amassing a respectable 3,997 runs at an average of 43.92 in 55 Test matches, Babar hasn't managed a Test half-century in 18 innings since late 2022, and his form has dipped since his appointment as captain, a role he relinquished after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup.
Ponting, during an interview with the ICC Review, highlighted the importance of getting Babar back in form for Pakistan's success, emphasizing the need to find a way to restore his confidence and bring him back into the Test team. He then suggested Babar take a break from the game, similar to the strategy employed by Kohli to reignite his own batting prowess. Kohli, facing a similar slump in form, stepped away from cricket for personal reasons during India's home Test series against England earlier this year. His return was marked by a game-winning innings against South Africa in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup final, securing India's first ICC trophy in eleven years.
Kohli's break proved to be a turning point, as he returned with renewed vigour and achieved exceptional performances in all formats over the following year. His resurgence included a match-winning performance against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, an impressive run in the ODI World Cup 2023 at home, where he scored a record 765 runs and was named Player of the Tournament, and finally, his first international century since 2019. Ponting believes that a similar break could be the solution for Babar, suggesting he take time away from the game, allowing him to mentally refresh and address any underlying issues. Ponting emphasizes that Babar needs to stop putting pressure on himself and allow his mind to recharge, trusting that upon his return, he will be able to reclaim his top form.
Source: India Vs Pakistan: Ricky Ponting wants Babar Azam to take Virat Kohli's way to regain form