Babar blazes fastest PSL century in 2026 return to form

Babar Azam scored his first T20 century in two years and his fastest PSL century while anchoring Peshawar Zalmi's win.

Babar's resurgence this season The 2026 Pakistan Super League has marked a strong comeback for Babar Azam. He has consistently delivered vital runs for Peshawar Zalmi across different pitches, ending a stretch where heavy expectations and intense scrutiny had weighed on him. Earlier in the tournament, a coach noted how the volume of criticism had clearly affected his performance. ## Liberated yet disciplined approach This edition of the PSL has revealed a refreshed Babar, now playing with greater freedom while maintaining control at the crease. Though not fully reverting to his earlier domineering style, noticeable improvements have emerged. His return to the opener’s position—where he has historically excelled—appears to have unlocked his best cricket. Out of his 12 T20 centuries, nearly 75 percent have come while batting first, and over half his career runs in this format have been scored in this role. His partners at the top, Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis, provide stability, allowing him to build innings rather than force the pace. ## Mendis partnership fuels Zalmi's success Kusal Mendis has been in sublime form during his first PSL season, currently leading the run-scoring charts. His partnership with Babar has become one of the standout narratives of the competition. No duo has amassed more runs together in six innings, including three century stands. Their record-breaking 191-run stand against Karachi Kings remains the highest partnership ever recorded in PSL history. Notably, Babar has shown a new willingness to support Mendis rather than dominate proceedings, letting the Sri Lankan take the lead while he plays the anchor. ## Partnership dominance continues against Quetta In their latest outing against Quetta Gladiators, Babar and Mendis continued their prolific run-scoring. After Mendis punished Jahandad Khan, Joseph, and Saud Shakeel with boundaries early in the innings, Babar adopted a measured approach. Mendis raced to 84 off 44 balls while Babar contributed 58 off 35 at a slower tempo. Once Mendis was dismissed in the 15th over, Babar shifted into top gear, bludgeoning his final 37 runs in just 12 deliveries to steer Peshawar to victory. ## Babar explains partnership philosophy After the match, Babar clarified his role within the opening trio. 'My plan is to build an innings [as an anchor with Mohammad Haris and Kusal Mendis around me],' he explained to reporters. 'If the ball is in my zone, I utilise it. At times, your partner is in better form than you are and he is dominating the opposition more and putting them under pressure so you provide him strike as I did with Mendis. I took it upon myself to attack once Mendis got out by looking to score 15-20 runs each over.' ## Criticism fuels stronger finish High-profile cricketers face intense scrutiny when their form dips, and Babar had been questioned over his ability to strike the ball and his match fitness during his struggles. Doubts were even raised about his suitability for the T20 format entirely. This season, he has responded emphatically, particularly in the closing stages of innings. Against Quetta, he launched two sixes over midwicket off Abrar Ahmed before depositing Usman Tariq into the same region—even against the wind and across a longer boundary. ## Tariq struggles under Babar’s assault Usman Tariq has had a quiet campaign so far, taking only four wickets in the first six games and going wicketless in three of them. His recent return of three wickets for 18 against Lahore Qalandars had offered some respite before Babar’s assault. Tariq admitted batters aren’t attacking him enough, but he could do little as Babar dismantled his figures. Babar hit him for a four and six down the ground in the same over, timing his shots perfectly after waiting through a pause and rocking back on the crease. ## Unmatched control in milestone innings Beyond the boundaries, Babar’s innings was defined by exceptional control. He faced only one dot ball in 52 deliveries—a feat never before achieved in a T20 innings of 50-plus balls. This milestone highlighted a clear shift in his game plan, addressing frequent criticism over excessive dot balls. 'Strike rotation is very important in every format,' Babar said. 'You should always be looking to score runs. You cannot be thinking about sixes and fours on each ball. You may hit them on your good day, but it would be difficult to do so every day.' ## Fitness and relief after long wait Babar capped off his innings with an improbable double on the final ball to reach his century, showcasing both his batting acumen and renewed athleticism. 'You are relieved on the inside when you achieve something and I felt that today,' he reflected. 'There was a lot of hard work behind it and I worked on my fitness as well. I had self-belief. I cherish all my performances, but there is a different [level of] relief when you perform after a while and people had been anticipating it.' ## Fastest PSL century ends two-year drought It has been 24 months and 67 innings since Babar last scored a T20 hundred. The fact that it came as his quickest PSL century may reassure fans that his class and timing remain intact despite recent challenges. His 100 not out off just 52 balls against Quetta Gladiators not only ended a personal drought but also reaffirmed his status as one of the format’s most elegant and effective batters.