🏏 Babar Azam on the Verge of Achieving Multiple Milestones in Sri Lanka ODIs Full 2025 Analysis
Pakistan cricket is entering yet another thrilling chapter as their modern-day batting maestro Babar Azam prepares to face Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series at Rawalpindi. The 31-year-old right-hander, widely regarded as one of the finest limited-overs batters of this generation, is only inches away from rewriting several records — both personal and national.
As Pakistan continue their journey toward reclaiming dominance in white-ball cricket, all eyes once again turn to the man who has become a symbol of consistency, elegance, and world-class batting: Babar Azam.
In this long-form Cricketory analysis, we break down:
✅ Exact milestones Babar is set to break
✅ His dominance against Sri Lanka
✅ Records in range at home
✅ ODI century race vs Pakistan legends
✅ Career projections — how far can he go?
✅ Experts’ strategic insights
✅ Frequently asked questions
Let's dive into the complete breakdown.
⭐ Babar’s ODI Brilliance vs Sri Lanka — A Rivalry Built on Runs
Babar has played 12 ODIs against Sri Lanka, scoring:
- 535 runs
- 3 centuries
- Average: 53.50
📌 He has made these runs in just 11 innings — proving his unmatched consistency.
Why Sri Lanka Brings Out Babar’s Best
Sri Lankan bowlers tend to rely heavily on spin and disciplined seam bowling. But:
✔ Babar picks spin better than almost every active batter
✔ He plays late, with precision on slow Asian tracks
✔ His strike-rotation prevents bowlers from building pressure
Whenever Sri Lanka appear in front of him, Babar turns into a run-machine mode.
🔥 Milestone #1 — Another Century = Joint 2nd Most vs Sri Lanka for Pakistan
Most ODI hundreds vs SL (Pakistan):
| Player | ODIs vs SL | Centuries |
|---|---|---|
| Saeed Anwar | 52 | 7 |
| Mohammad Hafeez | 29 | 4 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | 42 | 4 |
| Babar Azam | 12 | 3 |
📌 One more century → Babar equals Hafeez & Inzamam
📌 Two more → Only behind Saeed Anwar
Given his form and home conditions, this record is within touching distance.
🔥 Milestone #2 — 102 Runs = Surpassing Imran Khan’s ODI Runs vs Sri Lanka
Pakistan’s top ODI scorers vs Sri Lanka:
| Player | Runs |
|---|---|
| Saeed Anwar | 2,022 |
| Ramiz Raja | 803 |
| Saleem Malik | 784 |
| Shoaib Malik | 728 |
| Imran Khan | 636 |
| Babar Azam | 535 |
🟢 Babar needs only 102 runs to surpass World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.
Achieving this in a three-match series is highly realistic.
📍 Milestone #3 — 5,000 International Runs at Home
Babar currently:
- 4,848 international runs in Pakistan
- Average: 51.57
- Needs: 152 runs ✅
If he scores these during the Sri Lanka matches, he will join an elite local list:
Only Pakistan Players With 5,000+ Runs at Home
| Legend | Approx. Home Runs |
|---|---|
| Javed Miandad | ✅ |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq | ✅ |
| Mohammad Yousuf | ✅ |
| Babar Azam | 🔜 Fourth member |
A milestone that signifies national dominance and longevity.
🎯 Milestone #4 — ODI Century Race: Catching Saeed Anwar
Most ODI centuries for Pakistan:
| Player | Centuries |
|---|---|
| Saeed Anwar | 20 |
| Babar Azam | 19 |
📌 One century → Equals record
📌 Two centuries → Babar becomes Pakistan’s all-time No. 1 in ODI hundreds
The greatest ODI batter from Pakistan? Many already believe so — this would confirm it statistically.
⏱️ Milestone #5 — Fastest to 20 ODI Hundreds in History
If Babar reaches 20 centuries within:
➡️ 41 more innings …
… he will surpass AB de Villiers and become 3rd fastest in history 🏆
| Rank | Player | Innings |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Hashim Amla | 108 |
| 2️⃣ | Virat Kohli | 133 |
| 3️⃣ | AB de Villiers | 175 |
| 4️⃣ | Rohit Sharma | 183 |
| 🔜 | Babar Azam | ≈174 (projected) |
This puts him in the club:
🇿🇦 Amla
🇮🇳 Kohli
🇵🇰 Babar
A truly global batting rivalry.
📊 Why Babar is Built for Big Milestones
| Attribute | Impact |
|---|---|
| Elite consistency | Converts 30s → 70s → 100s |
| Balance vs pace and spin | Unstoppable in Asia |
| High performance on big stages | Loves pressure cricket |
| Athletic fitness | Prolongs career longevity |
Babar’s biggest strength?
➡️ He doesn't rely on one specific shot
➡️ His game thrives on timing, not brute force
➡️ He adapts like a chess grandmaster
That’s why records melt in his presence.
🧠 Strategic Cricketory Insights
1️⃣ Babar’s Role at No.3 Is Perfect
Pakistan have finally embraced the anchor + accelerator model:
- Powerplay ⚡ = Openers attack
- Middle overs 🧠 = Babar controls innings
- Death overs 💥 = Finishers explode
His pacing mastery ensures no batting collapse worsens into disaster.
2️⃣ Sri Lanka Struggle to Dismiss Him
Weak Areas in SL’s bowling vs Babar:
❌ Lack of high-pace short-ball threat
❌ Predictable spin patterns
❌ Inability to sustain pressure from both ends
Babar uses:
✔ Sweep variation
✔ Cover-drive dominance
✔ Soft wrists into gaps
Expect repeat success.
3️⃣ Home Advantage = More Records
At Rawalpindi:
- Ball skids → Best for timing hitters
- Bat-friendly outfield → More boundaries
- Pitch rarely misbehaves early
Perfect playground for Babar’s craft.
4️⃣ Captaincy Pressure Removed = Unlocked Beast Mode
Not burdened by leadership:
✅ Clear mindset
✅ No selection politics noise
✅ Focus purely on batting
He is in pure run-machine mode again.
🔮 How Far Can Babar Go? (Projection)
If he plays:
- 6 ODIs per year (average scenario)
- Scores 700+ runs annually
- Maintains average around 50+
By age 35:
➡️ 8,500–9,500 ODI runs
➡️ 30–35 ODI centuries
That level = Top 10 ODI batter in history conversation.
At age 31, Babar has already secured:
🏏 World ranking legacy
🎖️ Fan following across continents
📊 Records that rise every series
And he is still improving.
✅ Full Series Schedule vs Sri Lanka
| Match | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Rawalpindi | November 11 |
| 2nd ODI | Rawalpindi | November 13 |
| 3rd ODI | Rawalpindi | November 15 |
📍 After this series → T20I Tri-Series with Zimbabwe starts Nov 17
🏆 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — ODI History
| Played | Pakistan Won | Sri Lanka Won | No Result | Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 157 | 93 | 59 | 4 | 1 |
Pakistan dominate historically ✔
Babar dominates individually ✔
Perfect combination ✔
📌 Cricketory Insights & Analysis (Short Section to Add at End of Post)
Cricketory Insights & Analysis
Babar’s unmatched consistency in Asian conditions, improved strike rotation, and reduced captaincy burden make this Sri Lanka series his best chance yet to claim Pakistan’s ODI batting crown. With Rawalpindi favouring timing and smart placement, analysts expect at least one major milestone to fall — and possibly more. Babar isn’t just maintaining success; he’s accelerating his legacy toward greatness.
❓ FAQs — Babar Azam Milestones
Q1: How many ODI centuries does Babar Azam have?
👉 19 ODI hundreds before Sri Lanka series.Q2: How many runs does he need to surpass Imran Khan?
👉 102 runs vs Sri Lanka.Q3: How many centuries will make Babar Pakistan’s top ODI century scorer?
👉 Just 2 more.Q4: Can he become fastest to 20 ODI hundreds?
👉 Yes — needs to do it inside next 41 innings.Q5: What is Babar’s average vs Sri Lanka?
👉 53.50 — world-class numbers.🎯 Final Cricketory Verdict
Babar Azam isn’t just chasing milestones —
He’s building a legacy that will redefine Pakistan batting history.
This Sri Lanka ODI series could become:
✅ Where he equals Saeed Anwar’s ODI century record
✅ Where he overtakes Imran Khan in Sri Lanka rivalry stats
✅ Where he becomes Pakistan’s 4th most successful batter at home
✅ Where he strengthens his case as a once-in-a-generation superstar
The cricketing world awaits —
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