Has Babar Azam's Performance Against Spin Declined Since 2021?
Recently, news circulated in the media that Mike Hesson advised Babar Azam to work on improving his game against spin (though the authenticity of this claim remains uncertain). This sparked mixed opinions among fans and analysts — some arguing that Babar has always been strong against spin, while others feel his game has indeed regressed in recent years.
To move beyond opinions, the best way is to examine the numbers statistically. By dividing Babar’s career into two phases — (i) from debut to 1 Jan 2021 and (ii) from 1 Jan 2021 to present — we can objectively assess whether his performance against spin has shown signs of decline.
Statistical comparison showing Babar Azam’s performance against different types of spin bowling before and after 2021 across ODI and T20I formats.
ODI Performance vs Spin
Batting Average
| Bowling Type | Avg Pre-2021 | Avg Post-2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left-arm Orthodox | 152 | 74.2 | -51% |
| Right-arm Legbreak | 119.8 | 62.4 | -48% |
| Right-arm Offbreak | 70.2 | 42.6 | -39% |
| Left-arm Chinaman | 27 | 36.5 | +35% |
Strike Rate & Dot Ball %
| Bowling Type | SR Pre-2021 | SR Post-2021 | Change | Dot% Pre-2021 | Dot% Post-2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left-arm Orthodox | 87.1 | 78.4 | -10% | 43.6 | 48.5 | +4.9% |
| Right-arm Legbreak | 90.2 | 101.4 | +12% | 40.3 | 41.3 | +1% |
| Right-arm Offbreak | 84.5 | 73.2 | -13% | 40.8 | 51.1 | +10.3% |
| Left-arm Chinaman | 84.4 | 76 | -10% | 43.8 | 46.9 | +3.1% |
Key Points:
- His average dropped by 40-50% against most spin types
- Only strike rate vs leg-spin improved (+12%)
- Dot ball percentage increased, especially vs off-spin (+10.3)
Overall, in ODIs, the decline in average and rise in dot-ball percentage are statistically significant, pointing towards a systematic struggle against conventional spin.
T20I Performance vs Spin
Batting Average
| Bowling Type | Avg Pre-2021 | Avg Post-2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left-arm Orthodox | 72 | 70.2 | -2.5% |
| Right-arm Legbreak | 65.5 | 33.8 | -48% |
| Right-arm Offbreak | 182 | 15.1 | -92% |
Strike Rate & Dot Ball %
| Bowling Type | SR Pre-2021 | SR Post-2021 | Change | Dot% Pre-2021 | Dot% Post-2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left-arm Orthodox | 114.3 | 105.2 | -8% | 22.2 | 34.8 | +12.6% |
| Right-arm Legbreak | 119.1 | 138.1 | +16% | 24.5 | 24.8 | +0.3% |
| Right-arm Offbreak | 128.2 | 108 | -16% | 22.5 | 33.9 | +11.4% |
Key Points:
- Massive collapse vs off-spin: Average dropped from 182 to just 15.1 (-92%)
- More aggressive vs leg-spin but gets out more often
- Struggles to score freely - dot ball % increased significantly
This shows a clear structural weakness in T20Is: once dominant against off-spin, Babar is now struggling both in terms of survival (average collapse) and strike manipulation (dot% increase).
Conclusion
Yes, Babar’s performance against spin has clearly declined since 2021.
Bottom Line: The data clearly shows Babar has regressed against spin since 2021. His main weakness isn’t power-hitting - it’s that he can’t work the ball around like he used to, which was once his biggest strength against spinners.