Why Babar Azam is trending in India today

Published 31 October 2026 at 7:00 pm · 10 sources · 10000+ searches today

Babar Azam is trending in India because Pakistan are playing Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final in Lahore on 31 October 2026. The spotlight is on whether Babar, who has 118 runs in four matches but no half-century yet, can produce a big score in the decider.

Key facts

Final: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Lahore, 31 October 2026, 1:30 p.m. IST
Babar Azam has 118 runs in 4 matches in the tri-series
Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in the last group match vs Sri Lanka
Mike Hesson called Babar and Fakhar Zaman two of Pakistan’s greatest players
The series is being viewed as a positive step toward CWC27

Why Babar Azam is in the news

Babar Azam is trending because Pakistan are targeting the ODI tri-series trophy against Sri Lanka in Lahore on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The final is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. IST, so Indian fans are following the match closely.

The main storyline is Babar’s form. He has scored 118 runs in four matches in the series, but he has not yet made a fifty, which has kept attention on him before the final.

What has happened in the tri-series

Pakistan started strongly with three straight wins in the tournament, including two victories over England and one over Sri Lanka. That run made them early favourites before they lost their final group match to Sri Lanka.

In that defeat, Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 runs. Babar Azam top-scored with 29 off 33 balls, which was not enough to stop the collapse.

Why the final matters

The final matters because Pakistan are treating the tri-series as a useful indicator ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, or CWC27. A strong finish would give the team a positive result to take forward.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Babar and Fakhar Zaman are “two of the greatest players in Pakistan’s history” and expects them to perform in the final. Hesson also said Pakistan have not yet played their best cricket, suggesting there is more to come.

What to watch next

As of 31 October 2026, the key question is whether Babar Azam can end his lean run with a substantial score in the final. The available reports are previews, so they do not confirm the outcome.

Fakhar Zaman has also struggled in the series, scoring only 31 runs in four matches without a fifty. That means Pakistan’s senior batting group will be under close watch in Lahore.

Frequently asked

Why is Babar Azam trending in India today?

He is trending because Pakistan are playing Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final on 31 October 2026. Fans are focused on Babar’s form and whether he can score big in a high-profile match.

How many runs has Babar Azam scored in this tri-series?

Babar Azam has scored 118 runs in four matches in the series. He has not yet made a half-century.

What happened in Pakistan’s last match against Sri Lanka?

Pakistan were bowled out for 110 runs in that game. Babar Azam top-scored with 29 off 33 balls.

What did Mike Hesson say about Babar and Fakhar?

Mike Hesson called Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman two of the greatest players in Pakistan’s history. He said he expects them to perform in the final.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.