Ricky Ponting's Advice to Babar Azam: Follow Virat Kohli’s Lead to Regain Form

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes Babar Azam can draw valuable lessons from Virat Kohli's career slump and subsequent resurgence. Ponting specifically pointed to Kohli's decision to take a break from cricket during his tough patch in 2020/21, which helped him regain his form and return stronger than ever. Ponting suggests that Babar, who has been struggling in Test cricket with an average of only 20.7 since 2023, could benefit from a similar break to reset and refresh himself.

After Pakistan's third consecutive Test defeat at home to England in Multan, Babar was rested by the selection panel as part of a strategy to manage players during a hectic schedule. Ponting acknowledged the challenges of getting Babar back into form but believes a break might be exactly what the Pakistani star needs to return to his best.

Ponting said, "Sometimes a little break is all that’s needed to freshen up, sort things out, and then come back recharged." He encouraged Babar to step away from the game for a while, lock away his kit, and focus on other aspects of life. Ponting is confident that Babar, when at his best, is one of the best in the world and is hopeful that he will regain his form as his career progresses.

Babar made his return to action in the first ODI against Australia, where he scored a quickfire 37 runs. Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan's appointment as the new white-ball captain has brought a fresh wave of energy into Pakistan’s leadership. Ponting expressed enthusiasm about Rizwan's aggressive and emotional approach to captaincy, believing it could be a key factor in Pakistan's success moving forward.