Babar Azam's disappointing show in the recent 3-Test series against Australia marked his third-lowest aggregate ever in a three-match Test series, totaling just 126 runs.
Surprisingly, Babar's 126-run series is lower than Virat Kohli's disastrous outing in the 2014 England series, where Kohli aggregated 135 runs at a below-par average of 10.5.
While Kohli bounced back in 2023 with a stellar performance, breaking records and scoring eight centuries, Babar Azam's form has been inconsistent, especially after Pakistan's forgettable 2023 ODI World Cup campaign.
Post World Cup, Babar stepped down as Pakistan's skipper in all formats, paving the way for Shan Masood in Tests and Shaheen Afridi in T20Is. The leadership change didn't bring the desired change in Babar's performance.
In the opening Test in Perth, Babar struggled, scoring only 21 and 14 runs, overshadowed by the Australian duo David Warner and Mitchell Marsh. Warner's 164-run inning alone surpassed Babar's total series run.
The misery continued for Babar in Melbourne, with scores of one run and 41 across two innings. Pat Cummins' 10-wicket haul in the second Test led to Australia's consecutive win, leaving Pakistan trailing 0-2 in the series.
In the final Test, Babar managed only 49 runs in two innings, contributing to Australia's whitewash of Pakistan (3-0). His struggles persisted, ending the series on a disappointing note.
Babar's dismal tour concluded with the Sydney Test, where he added just 23 runs in the second innings, finishing with a series total of 126 runs, the third-lowest in his Test career.
Babar's recent form is a concern, as he failed to score a fifty in the entire series. His slump is evident, with the last century dating back to August 2023 and a calendar year without a Test fifty.
As Babar faced criticism on social media, terms like 'Bobsi' and 'Zimbabar' trended. Australia's dominance, leading 2-0, positions them for a potential sixth straight clean-sweep over Pakistan in the ongoing series.