Babar Azam Ends 807-Day Wait With a Stunning Century

This uncanny coincidence has caught attention, as both players were in a prolonged stretch of underwhelming conversion despite their obvious class. Babar’s streak had drawn concern, and finally ending it in such style adds a dramatic twist to his narrative.

Milestones, Records, and Reflection

Babar’s century not only ended his long layoff but also added to his growing list of records. This was his 20th ODI century, equaling Saeed Anwar’s record for most ODI tons by a Pakistani.  Remarkably, he reached this mark in just 136 innings, making him the third-fastest Pakistani to 20 ODI hundreds, behind only Hashim Amla and Virat Kohli himself. 

On reaching his century, Babar celebrated with a visible sense of relief and received warmth from teammates, especially wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan.  Speaking to the broadcasters after the match, he admitted that he had struggled with expectations: though he often got good starts, he would “get out at the wrong times.” He credited his persistence, saying that believing in his talent and working hard helped him overcome the slump. 

With this innings, Pakistan secured an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series, continuing their strong home record against Sri Lanka.  The breakthrough puts Babar back in the spotlight — not just for what he’s achieved, but for how he has weathered this challenging phase and reclaimed his form.