As Pakistan gear up to face New Zealand in the opener at the Champions Trophy on Wednesday in Karachi, all eyes will be on Babar Azam, who is set to open the innings for Pakistan alongside Fakhar Zaman. Babar Azam, who has been a cornerstone of their Pakistan’s batting lineup, enters the tournament under very great pressure, with his recent form a topic of much debate. Babar's recent struggles with the bat have raised concerns, but he is expected to hit the ground in Champions Trophy. 

A noticeable slump in his performances has left Pakistan worried as they prepare to defend their title. In last 21 innings, Babar has been unable to score a century, causing huge panic in the Pakistan camp. His last century came in 2023 against Nepal, and since then, he has struggled to convert starts into big scores, particularly in the last 12 months. His struggle across all three formats has been evident, bringing a lot of frustration not only for Babar but for Pakistan as well. 

As the formidable batter of Pakistan, the expectations on Babar are monumental. While Pakistan’s hopes rest on a collective effort, the importance of Babar's role cannot be overstated. The tournament opener against New Zealand will be a litmus test not only for Pakistan’s team dynamics but also for Babar's ability to return to his best and lead by example. His dip in form has come at an unfortunate time, with Pakistan needing him the most.

Even during the recently-concluded Pakistan ODI tri-series involving South Africa and New Zealand, Babar faced frustrating dismissals, failing to convert his smooth starts into big totals. Nonetheless, Babar remains one of the premier batsmen for Pakistan and he would hope to make enormous contribution. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be led by Mohammad Rizwan as the battle against New Zealand marks the start of the mega event.