Babar Azam's Big Bash League (BBL) journey has begun like a nightmare. In his debut match against Perth Scorchers in the BBL, Babar returned to the pavilion scoring just 2 runs off five balls. Then in his second match in the BBL against Adelaide Strikers, he disappointed again. The former Pakistan captain returned to the pavilion scoring only 9 runs off ten balls. Actually, expectations surrounding Babar Azam were sky-high, especially as the BBL was being seen as a platform to regain form ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. But both his first innings seemed to have dealt a blow to his confidence.
At the crease, Babar appeared uncertain and hesitant. His shot selection lacked conviction, and mental pressure seemed to be consuming him. Such a start is undoubtedly disappointing for Babar, who came to this tournament as a high-profile player. If Babar cannot quickly break through his mental barriers and return to his rhythm, his path in this competitive league could become wrapped in failure.
On this day, Babar was caught by Matt Short while attempting a shot over mid-wicket off Luke Wood's delivery. Babar was Wood's first wicket after joining the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026.
Meanwhile, due to consecutive failures, Babar Azam faced extensive trolling. According to India Today's report, when Babar was walking towards the pavilion after getting out, loud 'boo' sounds were heard in the stadium. However, it could not be confirmed whether those 'boos' were for Babar or if the spectators wanted to disrupt the Strikers' celebration.
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Despite losing wickets quickly early on, the Sixers bounced back later and scored 159 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Josh Philippe scored 46 runs. In reply, courtesy of Liam Scott's 51 runs, the Strikers secured victory. However, chasing this target was not easy. Jamie Overton's fighting 30 runs and Luke Wood's 18 runs were needed in the final over to secure victory. This was the Sixers' second consecutive defeat, and they dropped to seventh place in the points table.
