'There is no point looking at stats'-Former India opener criticises Babar Azam for his leadership approach in big matches

Pakistan will face Australia in their next game on October 20, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. They faced a lot of criticism after their humiliating loss against the arch-rivals India. Babar Azam's side was not able to give a fight against the Men in Blue at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The skipper was slammed by the former cricketers and experts for not being able to think out of the box and have a traditional way of captaincy. 

Ahead of the clash against the mighty Aussies, former World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir feels, the 29-year-old skipper needs to change his approach toward the game of cricket. He believes Babar needs to change the team's style of play in under-pressure situations. Gambhir gave the example of how Rohit Sharma is leading the side. 

Except for Babar, no other batter could score a fifty against Rohit Sharma's side. He and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan stitched a partnership of 82 runs partnership and after both the batters went back to the pavilion. The team collapsed from 155/2 to 191/10. India while chasing had an easy task and won by seven wickets. 

I feel Babar will have to change his personality, his game and, importantly, his mindset: Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir said, "I feel Babar will have to change his personality, his game and, importantly, his mindset. Pakistan have had a history of attacking batters - Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Saeed Anwar, Aamer Sohail. In the present top three, everyone bats in similar mode. If someone has to take responsibility, it has to be their captain, who bats at No. 3."

"There is no point looking at stats. You may become Pakistan's leading run-getter, but legacy is created by winning tournaments, not individual records. Wasim Akram took three wickets in the 1992 World Cup final. He did not pick up a five-fer, but everybody talks about it because they won the World Cup. Nobody talks about Mahela Jayawardene's hundred in the 2011 final. Everyone remembers that India won the match."

 "It is important for the captain to take responsibility. If the captain is defensive, the team will be defensive. You can't tell the 10 other players in the room that, ‘you play positive, I will play [anchor] from one end."