‘This too shall pass’: Sherfane Rutherford shares encouraging message for Babar Azam amid poor form in ongoing tri-series

Babar Azam's poor run of form continued in the Tri-series final against Sri Lanka. The Pakistan batter was dismissed for a five-ball duck as his team came close to losing the tournament. It was also his seventh innings without a half-century since scoring 69 against Australia in May.

Babar has been going through a difficult phase, especially after being regarded as one of the leading batters in world cricket. His recent performances have raised concerns among fans, but West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford has come forward to show his support. Rutherford shared an encouraging message for Babar on X, writing, "This too shall pass."

Interestingly, Rutherford has also shown support for Indian batting legend Virat Kohli during a difficult phase in his career. Kohli faced criticism when he was struggling for runs, and Rutherford shared a heartfelt message for him as well. His latest post for Babar has once again caught the attention of cricket fans. 

See Rutherford's tweet here:

What Sherfane Rutherford said for Babar Azam on X

Sherfane Rutherford shared a short but encouraging message for Babar Azam on X. He wrote, "This too shall pass; stay strong, buddy." His message showed support for the Pakistan batter as he continues to struggle for runs.

Babar has faced a difficult run in international cricket in 2026. Across 22 matches, including Tests, ODIs and T20Is, he has scored 815 runs at an average of 37.04. His tally includes six half-centuries and one century, with a highest score of 88.

See also -Watch: Babar Azam dismissed for a five-ball duck during PAK vs SL tri-series 2026 final

Despite these numbers, Babar has struggled to score consistently in recent matches. He has also failed to register a half-century in his last four ODI appearances during the ongoing tri-series campaign. Rutherford's message is a reminder that every player goes through difficult phases and that better days can follow.

Babar Azam’s poor form in the Tri-Series: Recent scores and context

Babar Azam endured a difficult campaign in the 2026 ODI Tri-Series involving Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. He scored 118 runs in his first four innings without registering a half-century. His struggles continued in the final against Sri Lanka, where he was dismissed for a duck. These performances added to the pressure on the former Pakistan captain.

Babar Azam's Tri-Series performance at a glance:

Babar's lack of big scores was one of the main reasons behind the criticism. He also struggled to hit sixes during the tournament, while his strike rate remained around the mid-70s. Opposition bowlers targeted him with short-pitched deliveries, making it difficult for him to score freely. His recent ODI numbers have also raised concerns, as he has managed only one century in the last three years.

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Despite the criticism from fans and experts, Pakistan's batting coach Mike Smith has backed Babar. He believes that getting settled at the crease is the most difficult part and that a big score could be around the corner. However, Babar will need to find his rhythm and deliver consistent performances to silence his critics and regain confidence.

Why ‘This too shall pass’ echoes Babar’s 2022 tweet for Virat Kohli

Sherfane Rutherford's message to Babar Azam has a special connection with an incident from 2022. The West Indies batter used the words "This too shall pass", the same line Babar had shared with Virat Kohli during a difficult phase in his career. Babar had posted the message on X to support Kohli when the Indian batter was struggling for runs.

In July 2022, Kohli was dismissed for 16 in the second ODI against England at Lord's. India lost the match by 100 runs, and Kohli had not scored an international century since November 2019. A day later, Babar shared a picture with Kohli and wrote, "This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli." Kohli later thanked Babar for his support and replied, "Thank you. Keep shining and rising. Wish you all the best."

Babar later explained that every sportsperson goes through difficult phases and that he wanted to encourage Kohli with his message. Interestingly, Kohli ended his long wait for an international century in September 2022 with a hundred against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. Now, Rutherford has used the same words to support Babar as he faces a difficult period in his career.