India batter Cheteshwar Pujara analyzed Pakistan’s Babar Azam’s lethargic half-century in his team’s 60-run loss to New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opening match on February 19.

Babar Azam scored 64 runs in 90 balls for Pakistan as they tried to chase New Zealand’s 320 runs in Karachi. There was no intent of scoring fast as Pakistan lost early wickets and only managed 22 runs in the first 10 overs.

Babar Azam played 52 dot balls in his 90-ball knock and hit 6 fours and 1 six. After Pakistan lost the game despite efforts by Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, Babar Azam was slammed for his selfish approach when the team needed quick runs from him.

Cheteshwar Pujara dissected Babar Azam’s inefficiency against the spinners in the match.

“There was no intent. Babar’s footwork against the spinner was not good. He was not using his feet. He was not reaching for the ball. He was waiting for the ball to come to him,” Pujara said on “Dressing Room” show.

Show host Fakhr-e-Alam requested Pujara to give a masterclass. The right-handed batter showed how Babar struggled against the spinners.

“He was not committing. He was trying to flick the ball get a single, but there was a square leg fielder. He didn’t tried to play any sweep shot or a paddle sweep. Nowadays, reverse sweep is also an option to disturb the length of a spinner. It looks like there is a mental pressure on him.

In one-day cricket, you need to bat with freedom, he is a natural stroke player. He needs to bat with more freedom. He needs to rotate strike and hit those odd boundaries. In the present time the strike rate of 70 and 80 are not good enough. You don’t need to play for your own runs,” Pujara said.

“In one-day cricket you can’t be looking to save your own wicket instead you go to win the match. He was trying not to get out. But the dot balls added pressure on the batters, who came next,” he added.

It was New Zealand’s third win over Pakistan in less than two weeks, the Kiwis having beaten the Rizwan-led side twice in the preceding tri-series.

Pakistan will next face India in a do-or-die match in Dubai on February 23.