Gautam Gambhir has never been the kind of expert who plays it safe, and his latest statement has proved that yet again. During a recent conversation on a sports broadcast, the former India opener was asked to pick the player he believes could be the biggest performer in the upcoming World Cup. Instead of choosing crowd favourites like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, Gambhir surprised everyone by taking the name of Babar Azam.
According to Gambhir, Babar has a “different level of quality” and the solidity required to dominate a global tournament.
What made the statement even more striking was the list of names Babar was placed above — Kohli, Rohit, Warner, Smith, Root, and Williamson — all considered modern-day giants of the game.
On the other hand, a different set of fans agreed with Gambhir’s assessment. They insisted that when Babar is in rhythm, he is among the most elegant and technically sound batters in world cricket. They also felt that with the pressure of captaincy now off his shoulders, Babar could rediscover the free-flowing style that originally made him a global sensation. Supporters praised Gambhir for being neutral and focusing solely on skills rather than national bias.
This is not the first time Gambhir has strongly backed Babar. He has previously said that Babar’s technique is so correct that he can adapt to any condition. Gambhir has also mentioned that Babar, when relieved of leadership duties, looks mentally lighter and more capable of playing long, impactful innings — the kind that win tournaments.
