India, Feb. 20 -- Babar Azam continues to amuse. On one hand, his legion of fans fiercely want him involved in the Fab Four debate, but on the other, his performances demand otherwise. Struggling for form for over two years now, Babar's snail-paced innings against New Zealand in the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 proves his detractors right. How else do you justify the 'best batter' in Pakistan, a former captain playing out an astonishing 52 dot balls in a run chase of 321? Simply unexplainable.

An injury to Fakhar Zaman meant he wouldn't have come out to bat unless Pakistan were two down. With one of their heavy power hitters pretty much out of the equation, Babar should have all the more shown an aggressive approach. But al...