Indian wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik heaped praise on Pakistan captain Babar Azam. He expressed that the right-handed batter can become the first player to be ranked as the No.1 batter in all formats of the game.
Babar Azam has a stellar record for Pakistan in all formats. He averages 91.50 in seven matches across formats so far this year. His run tally in 2022 includes three centuries and four fifties. The prolific run-getter ranks Number 1 in the T20I and the ODI format, and stands fifth in Tests.
Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review, Dinesh Karthik highlighted Babar’s great record across formats. He said,
“One-hundred percent (he is capable of achieving that). He is a high-quality player who is at the peak of his batting prowess and he has got some Test matches coming up.”
“He has been phenomenal in all three formats of the game and he has done well in different batting positions too. I wish him all the best and think he has the potential. He has got all the following of Pakistan helping him in abundance to go on and do special things for his country,” he added.
Back in the Nets ✨ pic.twitter.com/CD3lHdYwiX
— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) May 11, 2022
Dinesh Karthik further reckons that Babar Azam can be put alongside the ‘Fab Four’ of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. He expressed that Babar has the credentials to make it ‘Fab Five’.
“It is a very strong ‘Fab Four’ that we are talking about and they have obviously been there for much longer, but there is no doubt that Babar has all the credentials and he is going to make it a ‘Fab Five’. There is no doubt he is there or thereabouts … he is a very special player,” Karthik stated.
Babar Azam’s balance and his striking point when he plays make him a special player: Dinesh Karthik
Further Dinesh Karthik added that Babar Azam has tweaked his batting technique which has helped him to time the ball better. Karthik reckons that Babar’s balance and striking point when he plays a ball make him a special player. He said”
“The two things that struck me when I watched him bat is his balance and his striking point when he plays a ball. Whether it is on the front foot or the back foot, his ability to strike the ball more often than not under his eyes, has been phenomenal. He strikes the ball at the point where it is optimum power for where the ball is pitched and that makes him a very special player.”
The Indian cricketer expressed that while playing International cricket a player needs to keep evolving to achieve success. He stated,
“When you play international cricket you have got to keep changing a little bit here and there to keep improving your technique. Sometimes just by one percent a lot of the time so that so you can go on and achieve success in that particular tour you are on, so I think he has definitely tweaked his technique a bit here and there over a period of time.”
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