Waiting for the Upturn: Babar's Rollercoaster Set to Climb

The "Rollercoaster" Metaphor Meaning: Life/cricket has ups and downs, scares, spins, but also fun and memories. After every low, there’s inevitably a rise again. Applied to form: Batters go through peaks and troughs. "Stress over problems doesn’t change their course, much like a rollercoaster doesn’t ascend faster because of passengers’ fear". Babar Azam’s Current "Down" Phase 2024-2026 context: Babar has faced criticism for strike rate, captaincy loss, and a dip in hundreds. Pakistan's early exits in 2023 WC, 2024 T20 WC, and 2025 CT added pressure. The narrative: From #1 ODI batter and poster boy to being dropped/rested in Tests, with social media debates about "Babar vs era. "The low point: Every great goes through it. Even the prophet Elijah said "I have had enough" during his lows. No other batter has dominated the PSL as Babar has: he is the only one to have breached the 4000-run mark in its history. So PSL 2025 made many wonder whether he was past his prime in the format. That he scored a paltry 91 runs across six innings in the recent T20 World Cup made the feeling stronger. But, the just-concluded PSL season has gone a long way in allaying those concerns. It was a thumping return to form, as he equalled the record for the most runs in a single PSL edition, amassing 588 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 145.90. Fakhar Zaman - who achieved the feat in 2022 - needed one more innings than Babar to get there. Class is permanent: The piece argues that form is temporary. "Just as the rollercoaster inevitably rises again, life also brings better days after difficult times. "Why Babar can ride again: Technique + age: Still 31 in 2026, with 30+ intl hundreds. "Hardships force us out of our comfort zone, allowing personal growth. "One innings away: T20/ODI cricket means one 80(50) or 100 can flip narrative. "It takes one innings" angle. Resilience: Difficult times "uncover our hidden strengths" and "foster resilience. Reflecting on his season with the bat, Babar said, "I was not up to my own expectations, but it is normal for a batter to struggle with his execution. You have to take a few steps back and assess where you are going wrong and correct it. You need support in such times, and my family and close friends kept me motivated. I discussed the areas of improvement with the coaches who are close to me and worked on them. "The loss of four early wickets put pressure on the dugout," Babar said. "But Hardie and Samad played sensibly and their partnership was crucial for us. They did not go for the attack, rather built the partnership and played their natural game once they were set. Bottom line: The title uses the rollercoaster to say Babar’s in a dip, but every ride goes up again. He’s had the highs of #1 rankings and cover drives, now the lows of criticism. But “the rollercoaster inevitably rises again”, and with his class, one big innings could start the climb.