South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has heaped praise on Babar Azam, calling the Pakistan skipper the cornerstone of his side’s batting order. Speaking on the Beard Before Podcast, hosted by England’s Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, Rabada described Babar as a player who exudes grit, consistency, and calmness under pressure.
“Babar is the rock of Pakistan’s batting lineup. He’s not easy to dismiss, and once he gets set, he makes you pay,” Rabada remarked. The right-arm quick, who has dismissed Babar four times across formats, admitted that bowling to him requires patience and precision.
Rabada went on to compare the challenge of bowling to Babar with facing modern greats like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Kane Williamson. “Those are the guys who test you the most as a bowler. Babar belongs in that category,” he said.
The Proteas fast bowler also highlighted how players like Babar provide stability to their teams. “Every batting lineup has someone who holds it together—Pakistan has Babar, Australia has Warner, India has Kohli. These are the guys you always plan against,” he explained.
Babar Azam, who recently led Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, continues to be the backbone of his team’s batting across all formats. Despite Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in the final, his performances remain central to the team’s prospects heading into the busy international season.
Rabada’s comments reflect the growing respect Babar commands globally, not just as a stylish stroke-maker but as a dependable run-scorer who carries the weight of expectations for Pakistan cricket.
