There’s something about Babar Azam that makes cricket feel pure again.
It’s in the way he leans into a cover drive. The way he holds his shape while flicking the ball through midwicket. The way he builds an innings like an artist—stroke by stroke, without ever rushing.
In an era obsessed with T20s, 360-hitting, and innovation, Babar has dared to remain timeless. And the cricketing world is grateful.
As of July 2025, he’s scored 31 international centuries, divided like this:
- 9 in Tests
- 19 in ODIs
- 3 in T20Is
But Babar’s story isn’t just about numbers. It’s about patience, resilience, and staying true to his game in a world that often pushes players to change.
Let’s walk through the legacy he’s quietly crafting—one century at a time.
Test Cricket: Old-School Grace in a New-Age World
Babar’s journey in Test cricket didn’t start with fireworks. It started with questions. Could this ODI wonder adapt to the red ball? Could he bat for hours? Could he survive when the ball nipped around?
The answer—an emphatic yes.
By 2018, Babar had silenced critics with his maiden Test ton—127 against New Zealand* in Dubai. That innings was poetry. And he hasn’t stopped writing since.
Test Century Record
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | 127* | New Zealand | Dubai | Nov 24, 2018 |
| 2 | 104 | Australia | Brisbane | Nov 21, 2019 |
| 3 | 102* | Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi | Dec 11, 2019 |
| 4 | 100* | Sri Lanka | Karachi | Dec 19, 2019 |
| 5 | 143 | Bangladesh | Rawalpindi | Feb 7, 2020 |
| 6 | 196 | Australia | Karachi | Mar 16, 2022 |
| 7 | 119 | Sri Lanka | Galle | Jul 20, 2022 |
| 8 | 136 | England | Rawalpindi | Dec 5, 2022 |
| 9 | 161 | New Zealand | Karachi | Dec 30, 2022 |
That 196 against Australia? It wasn’t just his highest score. It was a masterclass in defiance. He batted for more than 600 minutes. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t falter. He just stood there, shouldering the burden of his nation with every block and drive.
ODI Cricket: Where He Feels Most at Home
If Tests showcase Babar’s grit, ODIs highlight his rhythm. This is his format. The 50-over game gives him time to settle, space to express, and room to build.
From his first century in 2016 against the West Indies, Babar has blossomed into one of the most consistent batters in ODI history. His average sits comfortably above 55. His strike rate has steadily improved. His ability to bat deep into an innings is unmatched.
He now has 19 ODI centuries, putting him just one shy of Saeed Anwar’s all-time record for Pakistan.
ODI Century List
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | 120 | West Indies | Sharjah | Sep 30, 2016 |
| 2 | 123 | West Indies | Sharjah | Oct 2, 2016 |
| 3 | 117 | West Indies | Abu Dhabi | Oct 5, 2016 |
| 4 | 100 | Australia | Adelaide | Jan 26, 2017 |
| 5 | 125* | West Indies | Guyana | Apr 9, 2017 |
| 6 | 103 | Sri Lanka | Dubai | Oct 13, 2017 |
| 7 | 101 | Sri Lanka | Abu Dhabi | Oct 16, 2017 |
| 8 | 106* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | Jul 22, 2018 |
| 9 | 115 | England | Nottingham | May 17, 2019 |
| 10 | 101* | New Zealand | Birmingham | Jun 26, 2019 |
| 11 | 115 | Bangladesh | Karachi | Sep 30, 2019 |
| 12 | 125 | Bangladesh | Rawalpindi | Mar 31, 2022 |
| 13 | 103 | South Africa | Centurion | Apr 2, 2021 |
| 14 | 158 | England | Birmingham | Jul 13, 2021 |
| 15 | 114 | West Indies | Lahore | Jul 8, 2022 |
| 16 | 105* | West Indies | Lahore | Apr 2, 2022 |
| 17 | 103 | Australia | Multan | Jun 8, 2022 |
| 18 | 107 | Australia | Karachi | Apr 2, 2022 |
| 19 | 151 | Nepal | Multan | Aug 30, 2023 |
That 158 vs England? A symphony. A lesson in how to absorb pressure and then explode. Babar wasn’t just batting. He was painting.
T20I Cricket: Class in a Format of Carnage
T20Is often reward brute strength. Flashy shots. Risky innovation.
But Babar plays it differently. He slows the tempo just enough to dictate the game. His boundaries aren’t screamed—they’re whispered. He has the highest number of T20I centuries by a Pakistani: 3 and counting.
T20I Century List
| No. | Score | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 1 | 122 | South Africa | Centurion | Apr 14, 2021 |
| 2 | 110* | England | Karachi | Sep 22, 2022 |
| 3 | 101* | New Zealand | Lahore | Apr 15, 2023 |
His 122 against South Africa was pure poetry in fast forward. He didn’t just hit sixes—he picked pockets. He made it look easy in a format where nothing ever is.
Babar’s Century Tally by the Numbers
| Format | Centuries | Highest Score | Matches | Average |
| Test | 9 | 196 | 59 | 42.80 |
| ODI | 19 | 158 | 131 | 55.20 |
| T20I | 3 | 122 | 128 | 39.80 |
| Total | 31 | — | — | — |
What Makes Him Different?
Babar doesn’t play for the highlight reel. He plays to win. He plays to anchor. He plays to inspire.
He doesn’t shout. He doesn’t sledge. He doesn’t swagger. But he commands the crease with presence.
He’s the guy you trust when the pitch is tricky. When the run rate needs managing. When the collapse needs stopping. He’s not always loud—but he’s always there.
- Fastest Asian to 5000 ODI runs
- First Pakistani to score centuries in all three formats
- Stepped down as all-format captain with dignity in 2024, but never stopped scoring
Franchise Cricket and PSL Stardom
Though Babar’s absence in the IPL remains a point of frustration for global fans, he’s made the Pakistan Super League his playground.
He’s been the face of Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi—leading run-scorer, calm leader, and always the man to rely on. His franchise performances reflect his international ones: solid, stylish, and steady.
What Lies Ahead?
He’s 30. He’s got a good 6–8 years left in the tank.
Could he:
- Break 10,000 runs in ODIs?
- Finish with 40+ international hundreds?
- Lead Pakistan to another ICC final?
Possibly. But even if he doesn’t, what he’s already achieved is incredible.
Final Thoughts: In a World That Rushes, Babar Waits
In a cricketing world obsessed with change, Babar Azam has chosen to be constant.
He reminds us tha technique still matters. That timing still thrills. That cricket, at its heart, is still a game of elegance. 31 centuries. And not one of them is loud. But each one echoes.
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