(Source X)
Former Indian cricketers Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth criticized Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam during a live TV program, dismissing comparisons to the legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara. The discussion took place on the Hotstar OTT show “Caught & Bold,” where both World Cup-winning players expressed their views.
Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth delivered a light-hearted but blunt response to a comparison involving Pakistan’s Babar Azam during a lively TV discussion. The exchange occurred on the Hotstar OTT show “Caught & Bold,” where the former Indian World Cup winner Sreesanth swiftly chose Brian Lara over Kumar Sangakkara when asked to pick between the two cricketing greats.
However, when the comparison shifted to Lara versus Babar Azam, the atmosphere turned jovial. The host’s question elicited loud laughter from Harbhajan and Sreesanth, who playfully expressed disbelief at the comparison. Sreesanth even humorously displayed a pineapple to the camera in response.
Harbhajan, equally amused, couldn’t contain his laughter and jokingly applauded the host for posing such a juxtaposition. This light-hearted moment escalated further when Harbhajan playfully offered various fruits, like pineapple, apples, and oranges, seemingly in jest about the comparison between Lara and Babar’s batting prowess.
The clip of this humorous exchange quickly gained traction on social media, adding to the buzz surrounding the show.
Brian Lara, the iconic West Indies cricketer, is celebrated as one of the finest batsmen in cricket history. Known for his graceful batting style and ability to construct monumental innings, Lara amassed 11,953 runs in Test cricket at an impressive average of 52.88, featuring 34 centuries. His unbeaten 400 against England in 2004 stands as the highest individual score in Test cricket. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Lara scored 10,405 runs at an average of 40.48, including 19 centuries.
In contrast, Babar Azam, the current captain of Pakistan, is recognized for his consistent and elegant batting. He has accumulated over 3,800 runs in Test cricket at an average above 45 and more than 5,700 runs in ODIs, boasting an average exceeding 56. Babar’s performance in T20 Internationals (T20Is) is equally commendable, with over 4,100 runs at an average of 41.
Despite his impressive statistics, Babar has faced challenges in recent times, particularly in maintaining consistency at the top order. His struggles were evident in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he managed only 122 runs, contributing to Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. This tournament was ultimately won by India in Barbados on June 29th.