Babar Azam made the team win (Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Babar Azam vs Mohammad Rizwan, BBL: No matter how the last year was for Babar Azam, he has started the new year with a bang. He has started the year 2026 on the strength of his bat. Babar Azam played in such a way that he did not get out to anyone and played an innings that gave victory to the team in just 45 balls. For the first time in the current season of Big Bash, Babar Azam’s Sydney Sixers and Mohammad Rizwan’s team Melbourne Renegades met. In this match held on January 1, the script of Sydney Sixers’ victory was written with the bat of Babar Azam.
When Babar Azam entered, he returned only after making the team win.
Mohammad Rizwan’s team Melbourne Renegades, batting first, had set a target of scoring 165 runs in 20 overs against Babar Azam’s team Sydney Sixers, which they chased with 5 balls remaining. In this run chase, the biggest role for Sydney Sixers was played by Babar Azam, who worked to maintain one end from the beginning till the end. Once he came to the crease to open, he returned only after defeating Rizwan’s team. During this period, Melbourne Renegades tried 6 bowlers, but no one could take the wicket of Babar. He returned only after winning by a four.
Scored second half-century in Big Bash
Babar Azam remained unbeaten till the end and scored 58 runs in 46 balls, which included 4 fours and 1 six. During this, he completed his half-century on the 41st ball. This is Babar Azam’s second half-century in the current season of Big Bash League. Before this, he had scored his first half-century in the match played against Sydney Thunder on 20 December. The big thing is that even then he had scored only 58 runs. However, in that he completed his half-century in just 38 balls.
Failed in 3 innings, did great work in 2
After scoring 58 runs in just 46 balls against Melbourne Renegades, Babar Azam has scored 128 runs in the 5 matches played so far in Big Bash 2025-26. If we remove both the innings of 58-58 runs, then in the remaining 3 innings, Babar Azam has scored only 13 runs.
Babar heavy on Rizwan
However, Babar Azam did not get the Player of the Match even after playing a match-winning knock against Melbourne Renegades. That award was given in his place to Shaun Abbott, who apart from taking 3 wickets for 16 runs with the ball, also took 2 catches. Babar not only played a match-winning inning for Sydney Sixers but also wrote a story of his dominance in the face-to-face clash with Mohammad Rizwan on the first day of the New Year and for the first time in the current season of Big Bash.